| Documentation: | FBI Crime Data 2010 |
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Publisher: U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Survey: FBI Crime Data 2010
| Document: | Uniform Crime Report - Crime in the United States, 2010 |
| citation: | Social Explorer; U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation; Uniform Crime Report - Crime in the United States, 2010. |
Chapter Contents
In the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force.
The data presented in Crime in the United States reflect the Hierarchy Rule, which requires that only the most serious offense in a multiple-offense criminal incident be counted. The descending order of UCR violent crimes are murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, followed by the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. Although arson is also a property crime, the Hierarchy Rule does not apply to the offense of arson. In cases in which an arson occurs in conjunction with another violent or property crime, both crimes are reported, the arson and the additional crime.
In 2010, an estimated 1,246,248 violent crimes occurred nationwide, a decrease of 6.0 percent from the 2009 estimate.
When considering 5- and 10-year trends, the 2010 estimated violent crime total was 13.2 percent below the 2006 level and 13.4 percent below the 2001 level.
There were an estimated 403.6 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010.
Aggravated assaults accounted for the highest number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement at 62.5 percent. Robbery comprised 29.5 percent of violent crimes, forcible rape accounted for 6.8 percent and murder accounted for 1.2 percent of estimated violent crimes in 2010.
Information collected regarding type of weapon showed that firearms were used in 67.5 percent of the Nations murders, 41.4 percent of robberies and 20.6 percent of aggravated assaults. (Weapons data are not collected for forcible rape.) (See Expanded Homicide Data Table 7, Robbery Table 3 and the Aggravated Assault Table.)
When considering 5- and 10-year trends, the 2010 estimated violent crime total was 13.2 percent below the 2006 level and 13.4 percent below the 2001 level.
There were an estimated 403.6 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010.
Aggravated assaults accounted for the highest number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement at 62.5 percent. Robbery comprised 29.5 percent of violent crimes, forcible rape accounted for 6.8 percent and murder accounted for 1.2 percent of estimated violent crimes in 2010.
Information collected regarding type of weapon showed that firearms were used in 67.5 percent of the Nations murders, 41.4 percent of robberies and 20.6 percent of aggravated assaults. (Weapons data are not collected for forcible rape.) (See Expanded Homicide Data Table 7, Robbery Table 3 and the Aggravated Assault Table.)
The FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another. The classification of this offense is based solely on police investigation as opposed to the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body. The UCR Program does not include the following situations in this offense classification: deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder or assaults to murder, which are scored as aggravated assaults.
Supplementary Homicide Data-The UCR Programs supplementary homicide data provide information regarding the age, sex and race of the murder victim and the offender; the type of weapon used; the relationship of the victim to the offender; and the circumstance surrounding the incident. Law enforcement agencies are asked-but not required-to provide complete supplementary homicide data for each murder they report to the UCR Program. Information gleaned from these supplementary homicide data can be viewed in the Expanded Homicide Data section.
Justifiable homicide-Certain willful killings must be reported as justifiable or excusable. In the UCR Program, justifiable homicide is defined as and limited to:
The killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty.
The killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen.
Because these killings are determined through law enforcement investigation to be justifiable, they are tabulated separately from murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.
More information about justifiable homicide is furnished in the Expanded Homicide Data section and in Expanded Homicide Data Table 14, Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Law Enforcement, 2006-2010 and Expanded Homicide Data Table 15, Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Private Citizen, 2006-2010.
Justifiable homicide-Certain willful killings must be reported as justifiable or excusable. In the UCR Program, justifiable homicide is defined as and limited to:
The killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty.
The killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen.
Because these killings are determined through law enforcement investigation to be justifiable, they are tabulated separately from murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.
More information about justifiable homicide is furnished in the Expanded Homicide Data section and in Expanded Homicide Data Table 14, Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Law Enforcement, 2006-2010 and Expanded Homicide Data Table 15, Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Private Citizen, 2006-2010.
An estimated 14,748 persons were murdered nationwide in 2010. This was a 4.2 percent decrease from the 2009 estimate, a 14.8 percent decrease from the 2006 figure and an 8.0 percent decrease from the 2001 estimate.
In 2010, there were 4.8 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, a 4.8 percent decrease from the 2009 rate. Compared with the 2006 rate, the murder rate decreased 17.4 percent and compared with the 2001 rate, the murder rate decreased 15.0 percent. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
Nearly 44 percent (43.8) of murders were reported in the South, the most populous region, with 20.6 percent reported in the West, 19.9 percent reported in the Midwest and 15.6 percent reported in the Northeast. (See Table 3.)
In 2010, there were 4.8 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, a 4.8 percent decrease from the 2009 rate. Compared with the 2006 rate, the murder rate decreased 17.4 percent and compared with the 2001 rate, the murder rate decreased 15.0 percent. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
Nearly 44 percent (43.8) of murders were reported in the South, the most populous region, with 20.6 percent reported in the West, 19.9 percent reported in the Midwest and 15.6 percent reported in the Northeast. (See Table 3.)
UCR expanded offense data are details of the various offenses that the UCR Program collects beyond the count of how many crimes law enforcement agencies report. These details may include the type of weapon used in a crime, type or value of items stolen and so forth. In addition, expanded data include trends (for example, 2-year comparisons) and rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
Expanded information regarding murder is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13 and Table 14
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17 and Table 18
Expanded Homicide Data (supplementary homicide information):
Victim data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 1, Table 2, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 8, Table 9, Table 10, Table 12 and Table 13
Offender data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 3, Table 5 and Table 6
Victim/offender relationship data: Expanded Homicide Data Table 10
Circumstance data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 10, Table 11, Table 12 and Table 13
Weapons data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 7, Table 8, Table 9, Table 11, Table 14, Table 15 and Table 20
Expanded information regarding murder is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13 and Table 14
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17 and Table 18
Expanded Homicide Data (supplementary homicide information):
Victim data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 1, Table 2, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 8, Table 9, Table 10, Table 12 and Table 13
Offender data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 3, Table 5 and Table 6
Victim/offender relationship data: Expanded Homicide Data Table 10
Circumstance data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 10, Table 11, Table 12 and Table 13
Weapons data: Expanded Homicide Data Tables: Table 7, Table 8, Table 9, Table 11, Table 14, Table 15 and Table 20
Forcible rape, as defined in the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Attempts or assaults to commit rape by force or threat of force are also included; however, statutory rape (without force) and other sex offenses are excluded.
The UCR Program counts one offense for each female victim of a forcible rape, attempted forcible rape, or assault with intent to rape, regardless of the victims age. A rape by force involving a female victim and a familial offender is counted as a forcible rape and not an act of incest. All other crimes of a sexual nature are considered to be Part II offenses; as such, the UCR Program collects only arrest data for those crimes. The offense of statutory rape, in which no force is used but the female victim is under the age of consent, is included in the arrest total for the sex offenses category. Sexual attacks on males are counted as aggravated assaults or sex offenses, depending on the circumstances and the extent of any injuries.
For this overview only, the FBI deviated from standard procedure and manually calculated the 2009 and 2010 rates of females raped based on the national female population provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
For this overview only, the FBI deviated from standard procedure and manually calculated the 2009 and 2010 rates of females raped based on the national female population provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
There were an estimated at 84,767 forcible rapes reported to law enforcement in 2010. This estimate was 5.0 percent lower than the 2009 estimate and 10.3 percent and 6.7 percent lower than the 2006 and 2001 estimates, respectively. (See Table 1 and 1A.)
The rate of forcible rapes in 2010 was estimated at 54.2 per 100,000 female inhabitants.
Rapes by force comprised 93.0 percent of reported rape offenses in 2010 and attempts or assaults to commit rape accounted for 7.0 percent of reported rapes. (Based on Table 19.)
The rate of forcible rapes in 2010 was estimated at 54.2 per 100,000 female inhabitants.
Rapes by force comprised 93.0 percent of reported rape offenses in 2010 and attempts or assaults to commit rape accounted for 7.0 percent of reported rapes. (Based on Table 19.)
Expanded offense data are the details of the various offenses that the UCR Program collects beyond the count of how many crimes law enforcement agencies report. These details may include the type of weapon used in a crime, type or value of items stolen and so forth. In addition, expanded data include trends (for example, 2-year comparisons) and rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
Expanded information regarding forcible rape is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
Expanded information regarding forcible rape is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
The FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines robbery as the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
Nationwide in 2010, there were an estimated 367,832 robberies.
The estimated number of robberies decreased 10.0 percent from the 2009 estimate and 18.1 percent from the 2006 estimate.
The 2010 estimated robbery rate of 119.1 per 100,000 inhabitants reflected a decrease of 10.5 percent when compared with the 2009 rate. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
An estimated $456 million in losses were attributed to robberies in 2010.
The average dollar value of property stolen per reported robbery was $1,239. The highest average dollar loss was for banks, which lost $4,410 per offense. (See Table 1 and Table 23.)
Firearms were used in 41.4 percent of the robberies for which the UCR Program received additional information in 2010. In a nearly equal percentage of robberies (42.0 percent), strong-arm tactics were used, followed by knives and cutting instruments used in 7.9 percent of robberies and other dangerous weapons used in 8.8 percent of robberies in 2010. (Based on Table 19.)
The estimated number of robberies decreased 10.0 percent from the 2009 estimate and 18.1 percent from the 2006 estimate.
The 2010 estimated robbery rate of 119.1 per 100,000 inhabitants reflected a decrease of 10.5 percent when compared with the 2009 rate. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
An estimated $456 million in losses were attributed to robberies in 2010.
The average dollar value of property stolen per reported robbery was $1,239. The highest average dollar loss was for banks, which lost $4,410 per offense. (See Table 1 and Table 23.)
Firearms were used in 41.4 percent of the robberies for which the UCR Program received additional information in 2010. In a nearly equal percentage of robberies (42.0 percent), strong-arm tactics were used, followed by knives and cutting instruments used in 7.9 percent of robberies and other dangerous weapons used in 8.8 percent of robberies in 2010. (Based on Table 19.)
Expanded offense data are the details of the various offenses that the UCR Program collects beyond the count of how many crimes law enforcement agencies report. These details may include the type of weapon used in a crime, type or value of items stolen and so forth. In addition, expanded data include trends (for example, 2-year comparisons) and rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
Expanded information regarding robbery is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
Weapons: Table 15, Table 19 and Table 21
Location Type, average value of items stolen by location per robbery: Table 23
Robbery Table 1, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
Robbery Table 2, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Population Group, 2010
Robbery Table 3, Robbery, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
Expanded information regarding robbery is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
Weapons: Table 15, Table 19 and Table 21
Location Type, average value of items stolen by location per robbery: Table 23
Robbery Table 1, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
Robbery Table 2, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Population Group, 2010
Robbery Table 3, Robbery, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
The FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines aggravated assault as an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The UCR Program further specifies that this type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempted aggravated assault that involves the display of-or threat to use-a gun, knife, or other weapon is included in this crime category because serious personal injury would likely result if the assault were completed. When aggravated assault and larceny-theft occur together, the offense falls under the category of robbery.
In 2010, there were an estimated 778,901 aggravated assaults in the Nation.
The estimated number of aggravated assaults in 2010 declined 4.1 percent from 2009 and 14.3 percent when compared with the estimate for 2001.
In 2010, the estimated rate of aggravated assaults was 252.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.
A comparison of data for 2001 and 2010 showed that the rate of aggravated assaults in 2010 dropped 20.8 percent. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
Of the aggravated assault offenses in 2010 for which law enforcement agencies provided expanded data, 27.4 percent were committed with personal weapons such as hands, fists, or feet. Slightly more than 20 percent (20.6) of aggravated assaults were committed with firearms and 19.0 percent were committed with knives or cutting instruments. The remaining 33.1 percent of aggravated assaults were committed with other weapons. (Based on Table 19.)
The estimated number of aggravated assaults in 2010 declined 4.1 percent from 2009 and 14.3 percent when compared with the estimate for 2001.
In 2010, the estimated rate of aggravated assaults was 252.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.
A comparison of data for 2001 and 2010 showed that the rate of aggravated assaults in 2010 dropped 20.8 percent. (See Table 1 and Table 1A.)
Of the aggravated assault offenses in 2010 for which law enforcement agencies provided expanded data, 27.4 percent were committed with personal weapons such as hands, fists, or feet. Slightly more than 20 percent (20.6) of aggravated assaults were committed with firearms and 19.0 percent were committed with knives or cutting instruments. The remaining 33.1 percent of aggravated assaults were committed with other weapons. (Based on Table 19.)
Expanded offense data are the details of the various offenses that the UCR Program collects beyond the count of how many crimes law enforcement agencies report. These details may include the type of weapon used in a crime, type or value of items stolen and so forth. In addition, expanded data include trends (for example, 2-year comparisons) and rates per 100,000 inhabitants.
Expanded information regarding aggravated assault is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
Weapons: Table 15, Table 19 and Table 22
Aggravated Assault Table, Aggravated Assault, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
Expanded information regarding aggravated assault is available in the following tables:
Trends (2-year): Table 12, Table 13, Table 14 and Table 15
Rates (per 100,000 inhabitants): Table 16, Table 17, Table 18 and Table 19
Weapons: Table 15, Table 19 and Table 22
Aggravated Assault Table, Aggravated Assault, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2010
