FBI Releases Preliminary Crime Report

The FBI released preliminary crime statistics for the first half of 2006 that show violent crimes rose 3.7 percent and property crimes were down 2.6 percent when compared to the first six months of 2005. The figures highlight the findings of a semiannual accounting by the FBI of crime in the U.S. The report, the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June, 2006, compiles the voluntary submissions of 11,535 law enforcement agencies.

The FBI has administered the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Program since 1930 to help partner law enforcement agencies across the country get a clear perspective on broader crime issues. They, in turn, can adjust their programs accordingly. The UCR is just one of many ways the FBI works to support local, state, and federal partners in combating violent crimes, one of the FBI's top 10 priorities.

Sample of preliminary findings:

Violent Crimes:

• Robbery offenses increased 9.7 percent
• Murder offenses increased 1.4 percent
• Aggravated assaults increased 1.2 percent

Property Crimes:

• Larceny-theft offenses decreased 3.8 percent
• Reported motor vehicle theft decreased 2.3 percent
• Burglary offenses increased 1.2 percent
• Arson offenses, tracked separately from other property crime offenses, increased 6.8 percent

The preliminary findings are in line with the Crime in the U.S., 2005 report released in September that compared crime statistics for the full year of 2005 to the previous year. Those findings showed a 2.3 percent increase in violent crimes and a 1.5 percent decrease in property crimes. However, in the years leading up to 2005, statistics on violent crime saw a steady decline, so it's still too early to say if new trends are emerging.

Here's is a look at just a few of the ways the FBI works to support its partners, including your own local law enforcement agency, day-in and day-out:

• Computer Forensics Labs: The FBI in 1999 launched a pilot program to help law enforcement agencies gather digital evidence from computers and other electronics. Today there are 14 Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories
• Crime Records: The database of more than 49 million fingerprints is available to police 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The National Crime Information Center, an index of fugitives, terrorists, missing persons, and stolen property, performs millions of transactions daily
• Profilers: The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit is on call to help police when their psychological expertise could help turn up leads
• Support: 56 FBI field offices around the country provide support -- both in manpower and technical assistance -- to local agencies when the need arises

In addition to breaking down the statistics regionally and by state, the report shows statistics by population size. For example, the largest increase in robbery offenses occurred in cities with populations between 10,000 and 24,999. Murder offenses were highest in cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,999.

A full report on crime in the U.S. in 2006 will likely be released in mid-to-late 2007.