NCJ Number
175894
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report compares preliminary crime counts for 1997 with final counts of 1996 for California jurisdictions with a population of 100,000 or more; it is estimated that the 71 jurisdictions that met this criterion in 1997 accounted for approximately 65 percent of the crimes reported in California.
Abstract
These jurisdictions are grouped into the following categories: police departments, which provide law enforcement services for incorporated cities; sheriff's departments, which provide law enforcement services to unincorporated areas within the county; and contract cities, which are incorporated cities that contract for law enforcement services rather than maintain their own police force. The data show that the California Crime Index (homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft) decreased 7.3 percent from 1996. Violent crimes decreased 7.1 percent, and property crimes decreased 7.4 percent. The number of homicides reported for 1997 decreased 12.6 percent compared to 1996, and reported forcible rapes decreased 1.2 percent. Robberies decreased 14.6 percent, and the number of aggravated assaults reports in 1997 decreased 2.8 percent compared to 1996. Reported burglaries decreased 6.4 percent, while motor vehicle theft decreased 8.6 percent. Tables present data by reporting departments.