Nation’s violent crime dipped in 2000

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Americans were victims of slightly fewer serious crimes reported to police last year: Rape, robbery and assault remained near already low levels, and the murder rate hit its lowest point in 35 years.

The FBI’s final figures for crimes reported in 2000, released Monday, showed very slight decreases in the total number of murders, robberies, assaults and burglaries. The report showed small increases in rapes, larcenies and auto thefts.

The rate — meaning the number of incidents per 100,000 residents — dropped for all those crimes.

The report marked the nation’s ninth consecutive year of fewer reported crimes and a 22 percent decrease since 1991.

It also found the smallest year-to-year overall decline in the same period, suggesting that the dramatic downward spiral since the early 1990s may have hit a plateau.

"Crime levels are flat," said James Alan Fox, a criminal justice professor at Northeastern University in Boston. "The great 1990s crime drop is over."

The FBI said law enforcement agencies reported 11.6 million serious crimes in 2000 — or one every 2.7 seconds — a 0.2 percent drop in the number overall from 1999.

Among findings:

  • The number of violent crimes reported was 1.4 million, a 0.1 percent drop from 1999.

  • The number of people murdered was down less than 0.1 percent to 15,517 in 2000. The murder rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people, however, is a 3 percent drop from the 1999 rate.

    Cities saw a 0.7 percent increase in murders, with the most pronounced increase — 11.7 percent — coming in towns with less than 10,000 residents.

  • The number of forcible rapes of women increased for the first time in eight years, by 0.9 percent to 90,186 offenses. However, the rape rate — the number per 100,000 females — went down 1.6 percent.

    Smaller cities recorded the highest rape rates in the nation, with 69 per 100,000 women, a 3 percent increase over 1999.

  • Property crimes fell 0.3 percent to 10.2 million offenses in 2000.

    Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

    Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

    Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    ‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

    Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

    Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

    Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

    The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

    A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

    The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

    Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
    Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

    The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.