The nation’s violent crime rate did not change significantly in 2014 compared with the previous year, the annual federal crime victimization survey found. Property crime, which includes burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft, dropped from 131.4 victimizations per 1,000 households to 118.1 per 1,000, largely because of a decline in theft.
The report is based on a survey of households and differs from compilations issued by the FBI, which are based on reports to police departments. Many big cities have reported violent crime increases in recent months, but that is not reflected in the survey by the Bureau of Justice Statistics released today.
The survey findings for 2014 are as follows:
About 1.1 percent of all U.S. residents above the age of 12 were victims of one or more types of violent crime last year—with an estimated 3 million people being victimized. And about 8 percent of U.S. households (an estimated 10.4 million) experienced a property crime such as a burglary, theft, or motor vehicle theft.
The rate of violent crime (including sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault) was 20.1 victimizations per 1,000 residents age 12 or older.
The rate of domestic violence(including crimes committed by spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends and other family members) remained the same–4.2 victimizations per 1,000 residents–from 2013 to 2014.
The rate of property crime (including burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft) fell from 131.4 victimizations per 1,000 households in 2013 to 118.1 per 1,000 in 2014.
There was a slight variation in crime rates by geographic region; while no significant difference in the rate of violent crime was recorded in the Midwest and South, the Northeast and West saw a moderate decrease. Property crime rates decreased in the Midwest, South and West while the Northeast saw no significant change.
Other key findings include:
- The rate of simple assault fell from 15.8 victimizations per 1,000 persons in 2013 to 12.4 per 1,000 in 2014.
- The rate of violent crime (for persons ages 12 to 17) fell from 52.1 victimizations per 1,000 in 2013 to 30.1 in 2014.
- There were no significant changes in rates of violent crime across urban, suburban and rural areas.