Table 6, Data Declaration

Crime in the United States, by Metropolitan Statistical Area, 2005

The FBI collects these data through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

General comments

This table provides a listing of the agencies that comprise Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), and their combined populations. The table also lists the actual and estimated offense totals and the rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) for each MSA.
The UCR Program does not have sufficient data to estimate arson offenses.
Any comparisons of crime among different locales should take into consideration relevant factors in addition to the areas' crime statistics. Variables Affecting Crime provides more details concerning the proper use of UCR statistics.

Methodology

The data used in creating this table were from all law enforcement agencies in the UCR Program, including those submitting less than 12 months of data.
Crime statistics include estimated offense totals (except arson) for agencies submitting less than 12 months of offense reports for each year.
This table includes all currently designated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in which at least 75 percent of the agencies within the MSA reported data to the UCR Program and for which the principal city/cities submitted 12 months of complete data for 2005.
The statistics under the heading "Total Area Actually Reporting" represent offense totals for agencies submitting 12 months of data and estimated totals for agencies submitting less than 12 but more than 2 months of data.
The statistics under the heading "Estimated Total" represent the above plus estimated totals for agencies submitting 2 months or less of data.

Population estimation

The FBI calculated 2005 state growth rates using revised 2004 state/national population estimates and 2005 provisional state/national population estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The FBI then estimated population figures for city and county jurisdictions by applying the 2005 state growth rate to the updated 2004 U.S. Census Bureau data.

If you have questions about this table

Contact the Communications Unit of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division via e-mail at cjis_comm@leo.gov or by telephone at (304) 625-4995.