The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program has released the annual crime statistics report, Crime in the United States, 2018. The UCR Program collects information on offenses known to law enforcement, including violent crimes of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, as well as the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The Additional Data Collections contain information on persons arrested, police employee statistics, federal crime, human trafficking, and cargo theft.

As stated in the FBI’s press release, the publication highlights the following key findings:

• In 2018, there were an estimated 1,206,836 violent crimes. The estimated number of robbery offenses fell 12.0 percent, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses fell 6.2 percent when compared to 2017 data. The estimated volume of aggravated assault offenses decreased 0.4 percent, while rape (revised definition) offenses increased 2.7 percent.
• Nationwide, there were an estimated 7,196,045 property crimes. The estimated numbers for all three property crimes showed declines when compared with the previous year’s estimates. Burglaries decreased by 11.9 percent, larceny-thefts by 5.4 percent, and motor vehicle thefts by 3.1 percent.
• By violent crime offense, the arrest rate for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter was 3.7 per 100,000 inhabitants; rape (aggregate total using the revised and legacy definition), 7.7; robbery, 27.2; and aggravated assault, 121.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• Of the property crime offenses, the arrest rate for burglary was 54.9 per 100,000 inhabitants; larceny-theft, 275.5; and motor vehicle theft, 28.1. The arrest rate for arson was 2.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
• In 2018, 13,497 law enforcement agencies reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2018, they collectively employed 686,665 sworn officers and 288,640 civilians—a rate of 3.4 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.

Additionally, the publication provides current information on hate crime statistics, data regarding felonious and accidental in-the-line-of-duty deaths and assaults on officers (LEOKA), as well as the National Incident-Based Reporting System for incidents, offenses, victims, offenders, and arrestees (NIBRS). To download printable files of this publication, please visit here.

The HSDL offers many additional resources related to the issue of Law Enforcement and Statistics. Visit the Featured Topics for more on information. Please note: HSDL login is required to view some of these resources.

Need help finding something? Ask one of our librarians for assistance!