WASHINGTON D.C.
The FBI is releasing the 2014 edition of its annual report Crime in the United States, a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported voluntarily by law enforcement agencies that participate in the Bureau’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, officials announced today.
This latest report reveals that the estimated number of violent crimes reported by law enforcement to Uniform Crime Summary Reporting System during 2014 decreased 0.2 percent when compared with 2013 data.
And the estimated number of property crimes decreased 4.3 percent from 2013 levels.
Included in the report is a message from Director James Comey, who said that Uniform Crime Reporting plans to begin collecting data about non-fatal shootings between law enforcement and civilians, and he encouraged all law enforcement agencies to submit their data about fatal shootings and justifiable homicide data, which is currently collected.
Once the FBI begins collecting the expanded data, Uniform Crime Reporting plans to add a special publication that will focus on law enforcement’s use of force in shooting incidents.
That report will outline facts about what happened, who was involved, whether there were injuries or deaths, and the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
Explains Comey, “We hope this information will become part of a balanced dialogue in communities and in the media—a dialogue that will help to dispel misperceptions, foster accountability, and promote transparency in how law enforcement personnel relate to the communities they serve.”
Here are some highlights from Crime in the United States, 2014:
- There were an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes (murder and non-negligent homicides, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults) reported by law enforcement.
- Aggravated assaults accounted for 63.6 percent of the violent crimes reported, while robberies accounted for 28.0 percent, rape 7.2 percent, and murders 1.2 percent.
- There were an estimated 8,277,829 property crimes (burglaries, larceny-thefts, and motor vehicle thefts) reported by law enforcement.
- Financial losses suffered by victims of these crimes were calculated at approximately $14.3 billion.
- Larceny-theft accounted for 70.8 percent of all property crimes reported, burglary for 20.9 percent, and motor vehicle theft for 8.3 percent
- Police made an estimated 11,205,833 arrests during 2014—498,666 for violent crimes, and 1,553,980 for property crimes.
- More than 73 percent of those arrested during 2014 were male.
- The highest number of arrests was for drug abuse violations (1,561,231), followed by larceny-theft (1,238,190) and driving under the influence (1,117,852).
What’s new this year?
For one, the 2014 publication includes the inaugural Federal Crime Data report, which contains traditional Uniform Crime Reporting data from a handful of federal agencies, as well as FBI arrest data on human trafficking, hate crimes, and criminal computer intrusions, the FBI stated.
Also included for the first time in Crime in the United States is Uniform Crime Reporting’s second report of human trafficking data submitted by state and local law enforcement, according to the federal officials.
It is expected that law enforcement participation in data collection for both reports will expand over time, which will help provide a more complete picture of those crimes, FBI stated.