Crime Data

Crime Statistics for 2010

Graphic with the word "crime" in the center.

According to the FBI’s report Crime in the United States, 2010, the incidence of crime nationwide decreased again. Overall, the estimated volume of violent crimes in 2010 dropped 6 percent compared with the 2009 figure, the fourth consecutive year it has declined. For the eighth consecutive year, the volume of property crimes also went down—2.7 percent. Violent crime offenses decreased across the board; the largest drop was for robbery, down 10 percent. Property crime offenses went down, as well—the largest decline, 7.4 percent, was for motor vehicle thefts.

Crime in the United States, 2010, was compiled from data submitted by more than 18,000 city, county, university and college, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies from around the nation. It contains information on the number of reported murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, forcible rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larceny-thefts, motor vehicle thefts, and arsons. Highlights include the following:

  • total number of crimes reported—10,329,135 (1,246,248 violent crimesand 9,082,887 property crimes);
  • most common violent crime—aggravated assault (62.5 percent of all violent crimes during 2010);
  • top three crimes for which law enforcement reported arrests—drug abuse violations (1,638,846), driving while intoxicated (1,412,223), and larceny-theft (1,271,410);
  • most common property crime—larceny-theft (68.2 percent of all property crimes during 2010);
  • total number of arrests, excluding traffic violations—13,120,947, including 552,077 for violent crimes and 1,643,962 for property crimes (the number of arrests does not reflect the number of individuals arrested as some persons may have been arrested more than once);
  • most common characteristics of arrestees—74.5 percent were male, and 69.4 percent were white;
  • prevalence of firearms use in crimes—67.5 percent of reported murders, 41.4 percent of reported robberies, and 20.6 percent of aggravated assaults;
  • and total losses for victims of property crimes, excluding arsons—an estimated $15.7 billion.

The full report is available online. To access Crime in the United States, 2010, visit http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010.