Crime Rate Index in Main between 1994 and 1999
Violent Crimes
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2016), violent crime rates in the state of main decreased drastically from a total of 1611 reported incidences of violent crime involving use or threat of use of force in 1994 to 1404 violent crimes in the year 1999. This represents a change in the number of violent crimes reported during this period of time by a margin of 207 violent crimes which is not such a significant change per se. From the statistical reports by this body, the offences of murder and manslaughter appear to have had significant influence on the violent crime rate index in this state .Only 28 percent and 25 percent cases were reported while others like robbery had higher percentage rates. For the period between 2006 and 2012, the total number of violent crimes reported in Maine ranged from 89 percent in 2006 to 57 percent in 2012, representing a significant decrease in violent crime rates. Again, it is murder and non-negligent manslaughter crimes that appear to have influenced the violent crime index during this period.
Property Crimes
As to property-related crimes in Maine, the FBI (2016) reports a total crime rate of 3142.8 in 1994 and 2762.7 in 1999, representing a decrease in crime rate for this period. Motor vehicle theft and burglary rates influenced this trend. On the other hand, this source reported property crime index rates of 1394 in 2006 and 1133 in 2012. This represents a change in the crime rate by 37 percent. It is the crimes of motor vehicle theft, arson and burglary whose rates seem to have influenced this downward trend in crime rates between these periods.
Trend in Violent and Property Crime Arrests for Oxford County
The violent arrest rates between 1994 and 1999 in the county of Oxford were 1130 and 1010 respectively though between 2006 and 2012, the number of arrests fell by half (Snyder 4). On the other hand, the number of arrests made for property crimes for the period between 1994 and 1999 was 1240 and 1199 in that order whiles those for the year 2006 and 2012 were 1019 and 1010 respectively. It is the offences of vandalism, fraud, larceny-theft and arson that topped the table as having significant influence on rates of police arrests.
Shortcomings of FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Data
Finally, in conclusion, I believe it is improvements in security surveillance networks by the law services and enforcement agencies that best explain the overall downward violent and property crime trends observed in the state of Maine and Oxford County.
Works Cited
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics: State-by-state and national crime estimates by year(s).” 27 Jan. 2016. Web. 27 Jan. 2016. < http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/Search/Crime/State/StatebyState.cfm?NoVariables=Y&CFID=104656218&CFTOKEN=e3a8fe9aec41758c-25146AD5-9BE0-C574-7D61C24E5C16F2C1>
Leonard, Barry. Crime in the United States (1999): Uniform Crime Reports. Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2001. Print.
Rand, Michael R and Callie M. Rennison. "True crime stories? Accounting for differences in our national crime indicators." Chance Journal 15.1 (2002): 47-51. 27 January 2016. <http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/tcsadnci.pdf>.
Snyder, Howard. Arrest rates in the United States, 1990-2010. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2012. Print.
