NCJ Number
179466
Date Published
1998
Length
216 pages
Annotation
This report presents the crime statistics reported by West Virginia police agencies under the direction of the Uniform Crime Reporting program in 1997; the data revealed that the State had the lowest crime rate in the country for the 25th consecutive year.
Abstract
The State has a total population of 1,816,000, including a rural population of 1,189,924 and a municipal population of 626,076. The 4,038 law enforcement employees include 3,003 sworn officers and 1,035 civilians. The State experienced 44,839 index crimes in 1997, including 3,971 violent crimes and 40,868 nonviolent crimes. The index crime rate was 2,469.2 per 100,000 residents. The total clearance rate for index crimes was 19.4 percent, including 48.9 percent for violent crimes and 16.5 percent for nonviolent crimes. The 9,183 arrests for index crimes included 1,516 arrests for violent crimes and 7,667 arrests for nonviolent crimes. Four-hundred thirty-five law enforcement officers were assaulted; none were killed. More than $46 million in property was stolen; the value of property damaged by arson was more than $10 million. Figures, tables, and explanation of methodology