U.S. violent crime drops by 4.4 percent to 19-year low

USPA News - Violent crimes, including murder and rape, dropped by an estimated 4.4 percent in the United States last year, reaching their lowest numbers in nearly two decades, according to annual figures released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Figures collected from across the country showed that an estimated 1.16 million violent crimes were committed in the United States last year, down from 1.21 million in 2012. The figures showed a year-on-year decline of 4.4 percent for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, a decline of 6.3 percent for rape, a decline of 2.8 percent for robbery, and a decline of 5 percent for aggravated assault.

Aggravated assaults (724,149) accounted for 62.3 percent of violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 2013, the FBI said. Robbery offenses (345,031) accounted for 29.7 percent of violent crimes, compared to 6.9 percent for rape (79,770) and 1.2 percent for murder and non-negligent manslaughter (14,196). The figures are the lowest since at least 1994, when the FBI documented 1.85 million violent crimes, representing a decline of 37.3 percent when compared to last year. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter dropped by 39.1 during the same period, while rape dropped by 21.9 percent and aggravated assault dropped by 34.9 percent. "This reduction in the violent crime rate continues a historic trend, and comes thanks to the tireless work of police and prosecutors throughout the nation," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said. "At the same time, we recognize we have much more work to do in order to ensure that every community, in every city in America, can share in the safer and brighter future we are building." Information collected regarding types of weapons used in violent crime last year showed that firearms were used in 69.0 percent of the nation`s murders, 40.0 percent of robberies, and 21.6 percent of aggravated assaults. Data regarding the use of weapons was not collected for rapes. In addition to violent crimes, property crimes decreased by 4.1 percent last year, the FBI said.