NCJ Number
195102
Date Published
2002
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This report compares Oregon's reported index crime for 1975-1999 among its jurisdictions and with the Nation as a whole.
Abstract
Index crimes consist of the violent crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, together with the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. This document compares all of these crimes except arson. Oregon's total index crime rate has been more volatile than the Nation's. Oregon's rate has declined 3 of the last 4 years covered in this report. In 1999 it reached the lowest point of the 25-year period (1975-99). Aggravated assault and robbery comprised most of the violent index crime reported in both Oregon and the Nation. Violent index crime was 12 percent of the Nation's total index crime in 1999; it was 7.5 percent of Oregon's total index crime in 1999. The Nation experienced a substantial increase in the violent crime rate between the mid-1980's and early 1990's, but Oregon did not follow this trend, as its violent crime rate decreased, then stabilized during the time that the Nation was experiencing a violent-crime "boom." The national rate has been declining since 1993. Oregon's rate followed beginning in 1996. Larceny-theft and burglary comprise most of the property index crime reported in both Oregon and the Nation. Index property crime was 88 percent of the Nation's total index crime in 1999, but was 92.5 percent of Oregon's total index crime in the same year, due to Oregon's high rate of reported larceny/theft. The Nation's property index crime rate has fallen every year since 1992; Oregon's rate began its latest decline in 1998. This report notes that Oregon's high property index crime rate could be partly due to a higher reporting rate. The Portland Metro area's index crime rate is typically two to three times higher than in other areas of Oregon. The Portland Metro area had a far higher property index crime rate than the rest of Oregon until 1990. The rate in the Willamette Valley is now virtually equal to the rate in the Portland area. 24 figures and appended index crime definitions