The early 2000s saw continued steady crime decline, though at a slower pace. The post-9/11 era shifted law enforcement resources toward counterterrorism, yet crime continued falling.
Population
287,973,924
Violent Crime Rate
494.4
-2.0% YoY
Murder Rate
5.6
+0.4% YoY
Property Crime Rate
3630.6
-0.8% YoY
Compared to 1991 peak: Violent crime rate 35% lower · Murder rate 42% lower
Notable Events in 2002
- •Department of Homeland Security created
- •DC sniper attacks — 10 killed
- •Corporate fraud scandals (Enron, WorldCom)
Violent Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 1,423,677 | 494.4 | 100% |
| Aggravated Assault | 891,407 | 309.5 | 62.6% |
| Robbery | 420,806 | 146.1 | 29.6% |
| Rape | 95,235 | 33.1 | 6.7% |
| Murder | 16,229 | 5.6 | 1.1% |
Property Crime Breakdown
| Offense | Total | Rate per 100K | % of Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Crime | 10,455,277 | 3630.6 | 100% |
| Larceny-Theft | 7,057,379 | 2450.7 | 67.5% |
| Burglary | 2,151,252 | 747.0 | 20.6% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,246,646 | 432.9 | 11.9% |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2002 national estimates.