NCJ Number
72713
Date Published
1979
Length
234 pages
Annotation
This Annual Uniform Crime Report portrays the nature, volume, and extent of crime in Pennsylvania during 1979.
Abstract
Each law enforcement agency in the State submitted statistics directly to the State Police, who then furnished data to the FBI for tabulation of the national crime figures. Individual sections of the report are concerned with background information on unform crime reporting and definitions of crimes, Crime Index offenses, Part II offenses, information on persons charged, and law enforcement employee data. In summary, the crime rate for all types of reported crimes was 7,447.9 crimes per 100,000 population, an increase of 8.9 percent over the 1978 rate. The rate for Part I offenses (serious crimes) increased by 9.5 percent to 3,381.7 per 100,000, and the Part II offense (other crimes) rate rose 8.4 percent to 4,065.8 per 100,000. In 1979, 43.3 percent of all offenses were cleared: 22.7 percent of the Part I offenses and 60.4 percent of the Part II offenses. A total of 81.4 percent of the State's population lives within Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and 86.0 percent of the Part I offenses and 84.1 percent of the Part II offenses were reported in such areas. A 2.8 percent increase in the number of arrests over the previous year was reported. Of those arrested, 86.1 percent were male; 13.9 percent were female; 73.8 percent were white; 25.3 percent were black; 0.9 percent were of other races; 34.2 percent were under 18 years old; and 70.6 percent were under 25 years old. Data are presented in tables, graphs, and charts. Appendixes containing additional tables and statistics on offenses and clearances by jurisdictions within counties are included.