On September 28, 2020, the FBI released their annual crime data report for 2019. Of the 18,667 federal, state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies eligible to participate in the UCR Program, only 16,554 agencies submitted data in 2019. For data specifically surrounding arrests totals, only 10,831 agencies turned in crime data for an estimated 229,735,355 of the population. Most of the agencies not turning in crime data are in mostly White populated areas.
Arrest totals from table 43 show that Whites represented:
69.4 % of all Documented Arrests
59.1 % of all Documented Violent Crime Arrests
65.8% offenses against family and children
71.2% of all drug abuse convictions
61.5% Stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing
69.8% of rape arrests
61.8% of aggravated assault arrests
74.6% of sex offenses
81.5% driving under the influence
67.1% Forgery and counterfeiting
70.8% Arson
67.6% Motor vehicle theft
66.3% larceny-theft
The report shows violent crime arrest totals at 355,244. Blacks accounted for 129,346 arrests, 36.4% of the violent crime arrests, while Whites accounted for 59.1% of the violent crime arrests at 209,848.
The report shows a total of 16,425 documented murders, with arrest totals at 7,964. Whites accounted for 3,650 arrests, while Blacks accounted for 51.2% of the murder arrests at 4,078. For better context, the arrest figures do not represent the numbers of individuals who have been arrested, rather, the arrest data show the number of times that persons were arrested.
Table 55 representing Metropolitan Counties showing Whites represented:
71.7 % of all Documented Arrests
57.3 % of Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter
66.1 % of all Documented Violent Crime Arrests
65.5% offenses against family and children
70.9% of all drug abuse convictions
68.4% Stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing
75.9% of rape arrests
69.3% of aggravated assault arrests
80% of sex offenses
81.4% driving under the influence
65.4% Forgery and counterfeiting
76.1% Arson
72.5% Motor vehicle theft
61.6% larceny-theft
The following was highlighted in the FBI’s press release:
In 2019, there were an estimated 1,203,808 violent crimes. When compared with the estimates from 2018, the estimated number of robbery offenses fell 4.7% and the estimated volume of rape (revised definition) offenses decreased 2.7%. The estimated number of aggravated assault offenses rose by 1.3%, and the volume of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses increased by 0.3%.
Nationwide, there were an estimated 6,925,677 property crimes. The estimated numbers for all three property crimes showed declines when compared with the previous year’s estimates. Burglaries dropped 9.5%, larceny-thefts decreased 2.8%, and motor vehicle thefts were down 4.0%.
Collectively, victims of property crimes (excluding arson) suffered losses estimated at $15.8 billion in 2019.
The FBI estimated law enforcement agencies nationwide made 10.1 million arrests, (excluding those for traffic violations) in 2019.
The arrest rate for violent crime was 156.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the arrest rate for property crime was 343.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
By violent crime offense, the arrest rate for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter was 3.4 per 100,000 inhabitants; rape (aggregate total using the revised and legacy definition), 7.4; robbery, 24.7; and aggravated assault, 120.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Of the property crime offenses, the arrest rate for burglary was 52.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; larceny-theft, 263.0; and motor vehicle theft, 25.1. The arrest rate for arson was 2.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
In 2019, 13,247 law enforcement agencies reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2019, they collectively employed 697,195 sworn officers and 306,075 civilians—a rate of 3.5 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.
The report stated that for the third consecutive year, the estimated number of violent crimes in the nation decreased when compared with the previous year’s statistics. The report also highlighted how in 2019, violent crime was down 0.5% from the 2018 number.
As usual, the report provided the following disclaimer from the FBI:
Caution Against Ranking—Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use the figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular state, county, city, town, tribal area, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction. The data user is, therefore, cautioned against comparing crime data of individual reporting units from states, metropolitan areas, cities, or colleges or universities solely on the basis of their population coverage or student enrollment.
