The Federal Bureau of Investigation (The FBI) released 2006 crime stats today. For the first time, the FBI didn't allow embargoes. All media outlets received or had the opportunity to view data at the same time (9:00 AM). The city of Branson is often misrepresented in these stats due to millions of visitors and a transient population which isn't considered when the stats are compiled. The stats do provide insight to crime in America and the challenges citizens and law enforcement agencies must face. Of course we'll ignore the warning and compile comparative stats anyway. But, before we do - here's a disclaimer and summary.
A disclaimer was issued with the documents release"
Caution Against Ranking—Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction. The data user is, therefore, cautioned against comparing statistical data of individual reporting units from cities, metropolitan areas, states, or colleges or universities solely on the basis of their population coverage or student enrollment.
Released 2006 United States Crime statistics. Here's a few higlights:
* Nationwide, there were an estimated 1,417,745 violent crimes reported in 2006.
* Of the violent crimes, the estimated number of murders and nonnegligent manslaughters increased 1.8 percent, and the estimated number of robberies increased 7.2 percent in 2006 when compared with 2005 data. The estimated number of aggravated assaults decreased 0.2 percent, and the estimated number of forcible rapes declined 2.0 percent.
* There were an estimated 9,983,568 property crimes, excluding arson, reported nationwide in 2006.
* Of the property crimes, burglary was the only offense to show an increase (1.3 percent) in volume when 2006 data were compared with the 2005 data. The estimated number of larceny-thefts decreased 2.6 percent, and the estimated number of motor vehicle thefts declined 3.5 percent.
* In 2006, excluding arson, victims of property crimes collectively lost an estimated $17.6 billion: thefts of motor vehicles resulted in losses of more than $7.9 billion, larceny-thefts resulted in losses of $5.6 billion, and burglaries, $4.0 billion.
* Slightly more than 44 percent (44.3) of violent crimes and 15.8 percent of property crimes were cleared by arrest or exceptional means by the nation’s law enforcement agencies in 2006.
* A total of 13,943 law enforcement agencies reported 69,055 arson offenses to the UCR Program in 2006.
* The number of arsons reported in 2006 increased 2.1 percent when compared with the number of arsons reported in 2005.
* The number of arsons reported in 2006 increased 2.1 percent when compared with the number of arsons reported in 2005.
* The average dollar loss for arson offenses was $13,325 per incident.
* The FBI estimated that law enforcement agencies nationwide made 14,380,370 arrests in 2006, excluding those for traffic offenses.
* Law enforcement agencies made 4,832.5 arrests for each 100,000 in population nationwide for the 29 offenses for which the UCR Program collects arrest data.
* The arrest rate for violent crime was 207.0 arrests per 100,000 inhabitants; for property crime, the rate was 524.5.
* The rate of arrests for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in 2006 was 4.5 per 100,000 in population. The rate of arrests for forcible rape was 8.2; for robbery, 43.2; and for aggravated assault, 151.1.
* Of the property crimes, law enforcement made 102.5 arrests for burglary for each 100,000 in population, 370.0 for larceny-theft, 46.5 for motor vehicle theft, and 5.5 for arson.
FBI Press Release:
