Crime in North Carolina - 1998
Annual Summary Report of 1998 Uniform Crime Reporting Data1
North Carolina Department of Justice State Bureau of Investigation April 1 999
The rate per 100,000 people of Crime Index offenses reported by North Carolina law enforcement agencies decreased 3 percent
from 1997 to 1998. The Index Crime rate in cities over 100,000 people dropped 6 percent, while the crime rate in cities under
100,000 decreased 2 percent. The Index Crime rate in both rural and suburban counties in North Carolina went down 2 percent.
Collectively the rate of violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) as a group decreased 5 percent statewide.
Individually, the rates for murder and rape both decreased 3 percent, the robbery rate dropped 7 percent and the aggravated assault
rate went down 4 percent.
The rate of property crimes (burglar)', larceny, and motor vehicle theft) as a group decreased 3 percent across the state. The
burglary rate decreased 2 percent, the larceny rate went down 4 percent and the motor vehicle theft rate decreased 1 percent. The
arson rate, a property crime not included with the other Index offenses, decreased 10 percent.
The number of juveniles under the age of 18 arrested for Crime Index offenses decreased 3 percent over 1997, compared to a 1
percent decrease in adults 18 and over arrested. Youths arrested under 18 for violent crime dropped 12 percent, with adult arrests
remaining unchanged. The number of property crime arrests for both juveniles under 18 and adults decreased 1 percent.
The number of North Carolina law enforcement officers assaulted decreased 9 percent over 1997. In 1998, one law enforcement
officers was feloniously killed, compared to five who were killed in 1997.
Table 1 - Statewide Crime Index Rate per 100,000 Persons
Percent Change, 1998 over 1997
Total
Index2
Vio¬
lent
Prop¬
erty
Mur¬
der
Rape
Rob¬
bery
Agg.
Assault
Bur¬
glary
Lar¬
ceny
MVT
Arson
1997 Rate
5,593.7
620.1
4,973.6
8.6
32.2
176.1
403.2
1,372.0
3,265.8
335.9
36.2
1998 Rate
5,427.8
591.8
4,836.0
8.3
31.2
164.5
387.8
1,351.9
3,150.3
333.7
32.4
Percent Change
-3
-5
-3
-3
-3
-7
-4
-2
-4
-1
-10
Table 2 - Crime Index Rate by Population Group
Percent Change, 1998 over 1997
Population
Group:
Total
Index2
Vio¬
lent
Prop¬
erty
Mur¬
der
Rape
Rob¬
bery
1!
Bur¬
glary
Lar¬
ceny
MVT
Arson
Cities:3
Over 100.000
-6
-9
-5
-1
-3
-10
-10
-2
-6
-8
-16
Under 100.000
-2
-4
-2
-8
+3
-5
-4
-2
-3
+4
-14
Counties:
Suburban4
-2
+ 1
-3
-5
-3
-1
+2
-1
-4
+3
-3
Rural5
-2
+ 1
-2
+2
-17
-4
+4
-2
-3
+10
-6
1 Detailed figures covering the entire state will be available in the annual publication entitled Crime in North Carolina - 1 998. More crime statistics are also
available through the SB1 Web site (http://sbi.jus.state.nc.as/.)
’index Crime includes the total number of violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor
vehicle theft.) The number of reported arsons has not been included in the total Crime Index. See back page for offense definitions.
'Campus police are categorized as cities.
includes sheriff's departments, the State Highway Patrol and county police departments within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). MSAs include
cities of at least 5().(XX) (central city) or an urbanized area of at least 5().(XX). The county containing the central city and other contiguous counties having
strong economic and social ties to the central city and county are also included. Counties in a MSA are designed “suburban.”
'includes sheriffs departments, the State Highway Patrol and county police departments outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas. See footnote 4 for the
MSA definition.
Issued by the:
State Bureau of Investigation
Division of Criminal Information
James J. Coman, Director
Ronald P. Hawley, Assistant Director
For Information Call: (919) 733-3171
Department of Justice
Michael F. Easley
Attorney General
http://www.jus.state.nc.us/Justice
