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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2002

Major crime in the United States rose by 2 percent last year, according to FBI statistics released on Monday, reversing a decade-long trend of falling rates that largely bypassed Indian Country.

Based on data from 17,000 jurisdictions, murders, car thefts, robberies and other crimes all showed an increase. Aggravated assault was the only category which registered a drop.

The FBI was quick to caution that the preliminary data could be revised as more statistics come in. A final report on the entire year is due this fall.

But what the numbers showed, in some instances, was a striking reversal of a 10-year trend. Robbery was up 3.9 percent, murder rose by 3.1 percent, motor vehicle theft increased 5.9 percent and larceny by 1.4 percent.

Rape saw a minimal increase of 0.2 percent. Aggravated assault saw the only decrease of 1.4 percent.

Among larger communities, the jumps were evident, according to the FBI. Cities with populations between 250,000 and 500,000, saw the largest increase, at 3.9 percent, while those with less than 10,000 saw the smallest gain, at 0.8 percent.

An urban-rural split also emerged. Rural counties saw a 0.6 increase compared to 2.4 percent of suburban counties.

Geographical differences were also noted. While all regions of the country saw gains, the West was the highest with a 4.5 percent increase. The Midwest had the smallest gain, at 0.9 percent.

The numbers came as law enforcement became more vigilant during the final quarter of 2001. But the FBI didn't factor in offenses which occurred following the September 11 terrorist attacks because statisticians treated them as anomalies.

The data reported yesterday was hinted last year when the FBI warned that crimes rates were leveling off. With a rise now confirmed, the nation rejoins Indian Country in seeing little change in violent offenses.

On and off the reservation, American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from the highest crime and victimization rates in the country. Native women are impacted more than their peers of other ethnic and racial groups, according to federal data released for the past three years.

Based on the most recent data, however, there was a slight dip in Indian Country crimes. Between the years 1993 and 2000, the average annual victimization rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives over the age of 12 was 105 per 1,000.

This represented a drop from previously reported data. Between 1993 and 1998, the Department of Justice said the Indian Country victimization rate was 119 per 1,000.

Federal authorities have criminal jurisdiction over Indian Country, based on the 1885 Major Crimes Act.

Relevant Documents:
Crime Trends, 2001 Preliminary Figures [Adobe 5.0 reader required] (6/24) | FBI Press Release (6/24)

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