| Documentation: | FBI Crime Data 2012 |
you are here:
choose a survey
survey
document
chapter
Publisher: U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Survey: FBI Crime Data 2012
| Document: | Uniform Crime Report - Crime in the United States, 2012 |
| citation: | Social Explorer; U.S. Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation; Uniform Crime Report - Crime in the United States, 2012. |
Chapter Contents
In the FBI’s 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 the arson and the additional crime are reported.
In 2012, an estimated 1,214,462 violent crimes occurred nationwide, an increase of 0.7 percent from the 2011 estimate.
When considering 5- and 10-year trends, the 2012 estimated violent crime total was 12.9 percent below the 2008 level and 12.2 below the 2003 level. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
There were an estimated 386.9 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012, a rate that remained virtually unchanged when compared to the 2011 estimated rate. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Aggravated assaults accounted for 62.6 percent of violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 2012. Robbery offenses accounted for 29.2 percent of violent crime offenses; rape accounted for 6.9 percent; and murder accounted for 1.2 percent. (Based on Table 1.)
Information collected regarding types of weapons used in violent crime showed that firearms were used in 69.3 percent of the nation’s murders, 41.0 percent of robberies and 21.8 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 2012 estimated violent crime total was 12.9 percent below the 2008 level and 12.2 below the 2003 level. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
There were an estimated 386.9 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012, a rate that remained virtually unchanged when compared to the 2011 estimated rate. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Aggravated assaults accounted for 62.6 percent of violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 2012. Robbery offenses accounted for 29.2 percent of violent crime offenses; rape accounted for 6.9 percent; and murder accounted for 1.2 percent. (Based on Table 1.)
Information collected regarding types of weapons used in violent crime showed that firearms were used in 69.3 percent of the nation’s murders, 41.0 percent of robberies and 21.8 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 FBI’s 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 Program’s 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, 2008–2012,” and Expanded Homicide Data Table 15, “Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Private Citizen, 2008–2012.”
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, 2008–2012,” and Expanded Homicide Data Table 15, “Justifiable Homicide by Weapon, Private Citizen, 2008–2012.”
In 2012, an estimated 14,827 persons were murdered in the United States. This was a 1.1 percent increase from the 2011 estimate, but a 9.9 percent decrease from the 2008 figure and a 10.3 percent drop from the number in 2003.
There were 4.7 murders per 100,000 people. The murder rate rose 0.4 percent in 2012 compared with the 2011 rate. The murder rate was down from the rates in 2008 (12.8 percent decline) and 2003 (16.9 percent drop). (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Of the estimated murders in the United States, 43.6 percent were reported in the South, 21.1 percent were reported in the Midwest, 21.0 percent were reported in the West and 14.2 percent were reported in the Northeast. (See Table 3.)
There were 4.7 murders per 100,000 people. The murder rate rose 0.4 percent in 2012 compared with the 2011 rate. The murder rate was down from the rates in 2008 (12.8 percent decline) and 2003 (16.9 percent drop). (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Of the estimated murders in the United States, 43.6 percent were reported in the South, 21.1 percent were reported in the Midwest, 21.0 percent were reported in the West and 14.2 percent were 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 FBI’s 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 victim’s 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 2011 and 2012 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 2011 and 2012 rates of females raped based on the national female population provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
There were an estimated 84,376 forcible rapes reported to law enforcement in 2012. This estimate was 0.2 percent higher than the 2011 estimate, but 7.0 percent and 10.1 percent lower than the 2008 and 2003 estimates, respectively. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
The rate of forcible rapes in 2012 was estimated at 52.9 per 100,000 female inhabitants.
The rate of forcible rapes in 2012 was estimated at 52.9 per 100,000 female inhabitants.
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 FBI’s 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.
There were an estimated 354,520 robberies nationwide in 2012. The 2012 estimated number of robberies decreased 0.1 percent from the 2011 estimate and 20.1 percent from the 2008 estimate.
The estimated robbery rate of 112.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012 showed a decrease of 0.8 percent when compared to the 2011 rate. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
In 2012, robberies accounted for an estimated $414 million in losses. (Based on Table 1 and Table 23 )
The average dollar value of property stolen per reported robbery was $1,167. Banks experienced the highest average dollar loss at $3,810 per offense. (See Table 23)
Among the robberies for which the UCR Program received weapon information in 2012, strong-arm tactics were used in 42.5 percent, firearms in 41.0 percent and knives or cutting instruments in 7.8 percent. Other dangerous weapons were used in 8.8 percent of robberies in 2012. (Based on Table 19)
The estimated robbery rate of 112.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012 showed a decrease of 0.8 percent when compared to the 2011 rate. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
In 2012, robberies accounted for an estimated $414 million in losses. (Based on Table 1 and Table 23 )
The average dollar value of property stolen per reported robbery was $1,167. Banks experienced the highest average dollar loss at $3,810 per offense. (See Table 23)
Among the robberies for which the UCR Program received weapon information in 2012, strong-arm tactics were used in 42.5 percent, firearms in 41.0 percent and knives or cutting instruments in 7.8 percent. Other dangerous weapons were used in 8.8 percent of robberies in 2012. (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, 2012
Robbery Table 2, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Population Group, 2012
Robbery Table 3, Robbery, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2012
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, 2012
Robbery Table 2, Robbery, Location, Percent Distribution by Population Group, 2012
Robbery Table 3, Robbery, Types of Weapons Used, Percent Distribution by Region, 2012
The FBI’s 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.
There were an estimated 760,739 aggravated assaults in the nation in 2012. The estimated number of aggravated assaults in 2012 increased 1.1 percent when compared with the 2011 estimate.
In 2012, the estimated rate of aggravated assaults was 242.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. A 10-year comparison of data from 2003 and 2012 showed that the rate of aggravated assaults in 2012 dropped 18.0 percent. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Of the aggravated assault offenses in 2012 for which law enforcement provided expanded data, 26.8 percent were committed with personal weapons, such as hands, fists, or feet. Firearms were used in 21.8 percent of aggravated assaults and knives or cutting instruments were used in 18.8 percent. Other weapons were used in 32.6 percent of aggravated assaults. (Based on Table 19.)
In 2012, the estimated rate of aggravated assaults was 242.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. A 10-year comparison of data from 2003 and 2012 showed that the rate of aggravated assaults in 2012 dropped 18.0 percent. (See Tables 1 and 1A.)
Of the aggravated assault offenses in 2012 for which law enforcement provided expanded data, 26.8 percent were committed with personal weapons, such as hands, fists, or feet. Firearms were used in 21.8 percent of aggravated assaults and knives or cutting instruments were used in 18.8 percent. Other weapons were used in 32.6 percent of aggravated assaults. (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, 2012”
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, 2012”
