Murder Rate Rises Across Country

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said today that violent crimes increased 2012 while touting a decrease in property crimes for the 10th straight year.

The 2012 statistics show that the estimated rate of violent crime was 386.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and the property crime rate was 2,859.2 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the annual report Crime in the United States.

Summary stats as framed by the FBI:

• In 2012, there were an estimated 1,214,462 violent crimes. The violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, and aggravated assault increased 1.1 percent, 0.2 percent, and 1.1 percent, respectively. However, the estimated number of robbery offenses declined 0.1 percent.
• Nationwide, there were an estimated 8,975,438 property crimes. The estimated number of burglaries declined 3.7 percent in 2012 when compared to the 2011 figure. The estimated number of larceny-thefts remained unchanged, and motor vehicle thefts increased 0.6 percent.
• Collectively, victims of property crimes (excluding arson) suffered losses calculated at $15.5 billion in 2012.
• The FBI estimated that agencies nationwide made about 12.2 million arrests, excluding traffic violations, in 2012. The arrest rate for violent crime was 166.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the rate for property crime was 528.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• By violent crime offense, the arrest rate for murder and non-negligent manslaughter was 3.5; forcible rape, 5.8; robbery, 33.1; and the aggravated assault, 123.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• By property crime offense, the arrest rate for burglary was 90.7; larceny-theft, 411.9; and motor vehicle theft, 21.9. The arrest rate for arson was 3.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• In 2012, there were 14,006 law enforcement agencies that reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2012, they collectively employed 670,439 sworn officers and 285,883 civilians, a rate of 3.4 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.

The report also breaks down the type of weapon used in each murder by state. California had the greatest number of murders, followed by Texas, Pennsylvania, and a tie between Michigan and New York at 682 murders each. Guam and Vermont, at 2 and 8 respectively, had the fewest murders of those who fully reported their stats to the FBI.

The FBI’s 2012 hate crime statistics won’t be released until November.