Crime in the United States 2000: Uniform Crime Reports

The incidence of serious crime in the United States, which has been following a downward spiral since 1992, may be reaching a plateau. Compared to the marked drops noted in recent years, the current slight decline in the Index crime estimate is certain to be viewed by many as no change at all from the previous years. Only after publication of the next few issues of Crime in the United States will we know whether the figures for 2000 signaled an end to the current downward trend or were merely a bump in the road. What can be stated with certainty is that the opportunity to compare national crime totals and speculate upon their significance would not be available without the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which has been compiling and publishing the Nation s crime statistics since 1930.