FBI Releases 2020 Crime Statistics Showing Increase in Violent Crime, Decrease in Property Crime
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, a division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), released their annual crime statistics for 2020 on September 27, 2021. The data demonstrated the largest single-year spike in homicides – nearly 30% – since the division began reporting in the early 1960s.
Overall, violent crime increased at 5.6 percent with the rise aggravated assault offenses, and among the largest rise was the 29.4 percent jump in volume of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses. The year 2020 produced a total of 1,277,696 reported violent crimes.
Alternatively, property crimes dropped 7.4 percent, with a total of 6,452,038 reported. Larceny-thefts decreased 10.6 percent, while motor vehicle thefts rose 11.8 percent. Victims of property crimes suffered losses estimated at $17.5 billion in 2020.
The FBI estimated law enforcement agencies nationwide made 7.6 million arrests, (excluding those for traffic violations) in 2020.
The Crime in the United States Report can be found as several downloadable spreadsheets and topic pages about offenses, arrests, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s UCR program. Arson data is not included in the property crimes data because of inconsistent reporting among law enforcement.
According to the FBI report, the estimated rate of violent crime was 387.8 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and the estimated rate of property crime was 1,958.2 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.
Of the 18,619 federal, state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies eligible to participate in the UCR Program, 15,897 agencies submitted data in 2020. Law enforcement agencies also report their staffing levels to the FBI and in 2020, 13,377 agencies reported. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2020, they collectively employed 696,644 sworn officers and 309,135 civilians — a rate of 3.4 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.