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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow today
released the 2009 Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
which shows the overall crime rate in New
Jersey dropped nine percent compared to
2008, with a significant 15 percent drop
in the number of murders reported statewide
in 2009.
Total
violent crime decreased four percent from
28,281 reported incidents to 27,108, the
eighth consecutive year of a drop in the
violent crime index. Rape decreased four
percent from 1,090 to 1,041. Robberies decreased
eight percent from 12,694 to 11,637 and
aggravated assaults decreased less-than
one-half percent from 14,121 to 14,110.
The
number of murders dropped in 2009 from 376
to 320. This marks the lowest reported murder
rate in a decade. In 2000 there were 288
murders reported by the state’s 21
county prosecutors.
“Our
latest crime data shows reductions in just
about all major categories of crime. This
is testimony to the skill and dedication
of the men and women of our law enforcement
community,” said Attorney General
Dow. “While I am encouraged by this
downward trend in the overall crime index
and violent crime, law enforcement will
have to continue to work even harder and
smarter, especially during this economic
crisis facing our state and nation.”
The
annual UCR, prepared by the State Police
Uniform Crime Reporting Unit, measures offenses
committed during the period spanning from
January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009.
The report contains data on the rate of
reported Index Crimes – offenses which
fall into seven crime categories, including
the four violent index crimes of murder,
rape, robbery and aggravated assault, and
three nonviolent index crimes of burglary,
larceny and motor vehicle theft. The UCR
also contains separate statistical reports
on bias crimes, carjacking and domestic
violence.
According
to the report, firearms were used in 68
percent (219) and cutting instruments in
14 percent (44) of all murders. In 32 percent
or 102 of the murders, the offender and
victim knew each other; specifically, 24
percent or 77 were friends or acquaintances
and 8 percent or 25 were family members.
Felony murders accounted for 21 percent
of all murder circumstances. Robbery was
the motive in 47 percent of the 68 felony
murders. Thirty-nine domestic violence murders
were recorded in 2009. Drug-related and
or gang-related circumstances accounted
for 5 percent or 15 of the murders recorded.
There
were 4,770 arrests reported for weapons
offenses, a decrease of 9 percent compared
to 2008. Of the total arrested, 26 percent
were juveniles.
The
total crime rate for the state was 23.9
victims for every 1,000 residents, compared
to a rate of 26.2 victims per 1,000 residents
in 2008.
The
violent crime rate was 3.1 victims per 1,000
residents, a slight drop from 3.3 victims
per 1,000 residents in 2008.
There
were 73,709 domestic violence offenses reported
by the police in 2009, a 4 percent increase
compared to the 70,613 reported in 2008.
The number of murders attributed to domestic
violence circumstances decreased 32 percent
(39) compared to (57) the previous year.
Bias-related
crimes reported to police decreased 22 percent
in 2009, compared to 2008. There were 683
bias incident offenses reported, compared
to 876 the previous year. Harassment accounted
for 41 percent (280) of all bias offenses,
while criminal mischief and property damage
accounted for 39 percent (264). Racial bias
accounted for 39 percent (268) of all bias
incident crimes in 2009, down from 47 percent
a year earlier.
Nonviolent
Crime (burglary, larceny-theft, and motor
vehicle theft) decreased 9 percent from
198,896 to 180,733. Burglary decreased 8
percent, from 40,132 in 2008 to 36,928 in
2009. Larceny-Theft declined 7 percent,
from 138,644 in 2008 to 128,304 a year later.
Motor vehicle thefts decreased 23 percent,
from 20,120 offenses in 2008 to 15,501 in
2009.
The
2009 Uniform Crime Report can be viewed
and downloaded at:
www.njsp.org/info/ucr2009/index.html
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