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It’s a good start: in the first six months of 2007, crime rates dropped for the first time in two years. Nationwide, violent crime fell 1.8 percent and property crime 2.6 percent compared to the same period last year. 

The figures—including breakdowns for larger cities, regions, and the nation—are available here in the just released Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report. 

The downward trends were wide-ranging:  

... Violent crime fell in all four regions and in each of the four offense categories. Nationally, murder and non-negligent manslaughter dropped 1.1 percent, forcible rape 6.1 percent, robbery 1.2 percent, and aggravated assault 1.7 percent.
... Among population groups, decreases in violent crime were largest—5.1 percent—in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 residents. 
... The largest cities—those with a million people or more—experienced a 6.5 percent drop in murder rates, a 14.2 percent drop in forcible rape, a 4.3 drop in robbery, and a 3.3 drop in aggravated assault. 
... Property crime also declined in all offense categories: burglary (1.3 percent), larceny-theft (2.1 percent), and motor vehicle theft (7.4 percent).
... Arson, which is measured separately, fell 9.7 percent across the country. 

Among the increases in crime rates:

• Violent crime rose 1.1 percent in non-metropolitan counties and in cities with populations between 10,000 and 24,999. 
• Murder rates jumped 4.9 percent in metropolitan counties, 3.2 percent in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants, and 1.3 percent in non-metropolitan counties. 
• Burglary offenses increased 3.5 percent in cities with a million or more residents.
• The South experienced a slight rise in property crime—0.4 percent. 
  

The in-depth statistics were compiled by our Criminal Justice Information Services Division in West Virginia, in close concert with city, county, and state law enforcement around the country. The report includes data from 11,673 law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Because of the complexities involved, the FBI makes no attempt to interpret the data, which we leave to criminologists and sociologists. And, as always, we caution against ranking or comparing crime rates in cities from year to year, which do not account for the many variables that impact the volume and scope of crime in specific locations. 

For more information on the FBI’s specific efforts to combat violent crime, see our Major Thefts and Violent Crime webpage. 

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