FBI REPORT SHOWS MOST NEW JERSEY CRIME DOWN IN 2014
Good news for New Jersey residents-most types of violent crimes continue to decline, say federal officials.
According to a report issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month, the state of New Jersey saw a nearly 10% drop (9.3) in violent crimes from 2013 to 2014. The decline continues a pattern seen in the state over the last five years. Although there were more than 23,000 violent crimes reported in New Jersey in 2014, the rate of approximately 261 violent offenses per 100,000 residents is a marked improvement from 2010, when the state saw nearly 310 such offenses for the same demographic.
The area of violent crime that saw the greatest plunge was homicide, with nearly 14% fewer murders in 2014. Robbery dropped by 13% and aggravated assault fell by 7% last year.
Official say property crimes also fell, with 7.5% fewer arrests for burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. As no surprise, the incidence of property crimes is significantly higher than that of violent crimes. The FBI report indicates an average of 1,734 property crimes committed in New Jersey in 2014 for every 100,000 residents.
In fact, the only crime that saw any increase in 2014 was rape, which escalated by just over seven percent. Researchers say that the increase there is most likely tied to a redefinition of rape to include oral and anal penetration, as well as rapes where a male was the victim.
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