The Federal Bureau of Investigation released the new 2011 crime statistics at the end of October this year, and the statistics show a general decline in most violent crimes in various parts of the United States.  Violent and property crimes decreased by roughly 3.8 percent and 0.5 percent compared to the statistics in 2010.  Violent crimes dropped for the fifth year straight, while property crimes dropped for the ninth consecutive year.  

The South had the most violent crimes in the nation (41.3 percent), while lesser amounts of crime occurred in the Western states (22.9 percent), Midwestern states (19.5 percent), and the Northeast states (16.2 percent).  

Aggravated assaults were the most common violent crime and accounted for 62.4 percent of all violent crimes.  Larceny-theft made up 68 percent of all property crimes.  

The statistics were collected from law enforcement agencies part of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program.  The violent crimes that participating agencies reported include murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.  The property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.  A total of 18,233 agencies participated in the 2011 UCR Program.  

Summary of Statistics from Crime in the United States, 2011:

•    a total of 1,203,564 violent crimes were reported in 2011
•    a total of 9,063,173 property crimes were reported
•    robbery decreased 4.0 percent; aggravated assault 3.9 percent; forcible rape 2.5 percent; and murder and non-negligent     manslaughter 0.7 percent
•    the arrest rate for violent crimes was 172.3 per 100,000 people
•    the arrest rate for property crimes was 531.3 per 100,000 people
•    fire arms were used in 67.8 percent of murders, 41.3 percent of robberies, and 21.2 percent of aggravated     assaults
•    reporting agencies employed 698,460 officers and 303,524 civilians

Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation