Latest FBI Crime Data: How Alexandria Stacks Up

ALEXANDRIA, VA—New FBI data shows crime once again fell in the United States — largely due to continued declines in property offenses — and Alexandria saw less violent crimes. The FBI this week published its final analysis of “Crime in the United States, 2017,” finding that the estimated number of violent crimes nationwide fell slightly .2 percent compared to 2016, while property crimes dropped nearly 4 percent. Experts say it marks the 16th consecutive year in which crime has declined.

The drop in violent crime is particularly notable given that the rate had increased in 2015 and 2016. The FBI estimated there were 382.9 violent crimes for every 100,000 Americans last year, down from 2016 when that number was 386.3. There were 17,284 murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, a tick down 1.45 percent.

In Alexandria, the violent crime rate was lower than the national rate last year with 262 violent crimes reported. That includes six murders and nonnegligent manslaughters.

The FBI said also estimated there were 2,362.2 property crimes per 100,000 Americans nationwide. That’s down from 2,451.6 in 2016. Alexandria's property crimes in 2017 totaled 2,482, down from 2,798 the previous year.

Among other notable findings for Alexandria:

• Violent crimes fell from 286 to 262 last year in the city.
• The estimated number of robberies fell from 134 to 102.
• The estimated number of aggravated assaults rose from 124 to 138. Rapes fell from 21 to 16.
• The number of larcenies plunged from 2,343 to 2,046 while burglaries fell from 184 to 163.

Experts at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School said the crime rate for the 30 largest cities in America dropped about 1 percent and that the murder rate fell 2.4 percent.

“Declines were especially pronounced in the largest cities,” the center wrote on its website. “In cities with populations over 1 million, murders decreased by 8.1 percent. In suburban areas — comprising more than a third of the country — murders dropped by 1.9 percent, essentially stabilizing.”

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Overall, that trend is expected to continue this year, the center said. the 2018 murder rate in these cities is projected to be 7.6 percent lower than 2017 and will likely end up somewhere around the 2015 rate, which was near the bottom of the “historic” post-1990 decline.

The FBI crime report is based on data provided voluntarily by law enforcement agencies across the country. Violent crimes include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

About 16,600 agencies submitted data last year out of more than 18,500 city, county, university and college, state, tribal and federal agencies.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Image via Emily Leayman/Patch