Level and Nature of Crime-United States

Using six benchmark Crimes, crime and rates of crime are interpreted to show trends.

Assault
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines Assault as a "physical attack against the body of another person resulting in serious bodily injury, excluding indecent/sexual assault, threats and slapping/punching. 'Assault' leading to death should also be excluded. Data supplied by countries may not exactly reflect the definition provided by UNoDC" (UNODC 2016 United States: Assault). These numbers indicate that the number of assaults is stabilizing after a sharp drop over the three year period.

Burglary
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines Burglary as "gaining unauthorised access to a part of a building/dwelling or other premises, including by use of force, with the intent to steal goods (breaking and entering). “Burglary” should include, where possible, theft from a house, appartment or other dwelling place, factory, shop or office, from a military establishment, or by using false keys. It should exclude theft from a car, from a container, from a vending machine, from a parking meter and from fenced meadow/compound. Data supplied by countries may not exactly reflect the definition provided by UNODC" (UNODC 2016 United States: Burglary). These numbers indicate Burglary is sharply decreasing over the three year period.

Intentional Homicide
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines Intentional Homicide as an "unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person. Data on intentional homicide should also include serious assault leading to death and death as a result of a terrorist attack. It should exclude attempted homicide, manslaughter, death due to legal intervention, justifiable homicide in self-defence and death due to armed conflict" (UNODC 2016 United States Intentional). These numbers indicate the number of homicides are decreasing sharply over the two year period. however, at the time of the posting of this page, the 2014 homicide data for the USA was not available in the Data from the UNODC

Motor Vehicle Theft
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines Motor Vehicle Theft as "he removal of a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner of the vehicle. “Motor Vehicles” includes all land vehicles with an engine that run on the road, including cars, motorcycles, buses, lorries, construction and agricultural vehicles. Data supplied by countries may not exactly reflect the definition provided by UNODC" (UNODC 2016 United States Motor). These numbers indicate that motor vehicle theft is sharply declining over the three year period.

Rape
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines rape as "sexual intercourse without valid consent. Data supplied by countries may not exactly reflect the definition provided by UNODC" (UNODC 2016 United States Rape) These numbers indicate that rape is sharply increasing over the three year period

Robbery
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines Robbery as "the theft of property from a person, overcoming resistance by force or threat of force. Where possible, the category “Robbery” should include muggings (bag-snatching) and theft with violence, but should exclude pick pocketing and extortion. Data supplied by countries may not exactly reflect the definition provided by UNODC" (UNODC 2016 United States Robbery) These numbers indicate that robbery is sharply decreasing over the three year period.

Reference
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). United States of America: Assault at the national level, number of police-recorded offences. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-assaults&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=35&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). United States of America: Burglary breaking and entering at the national level, number of police-recorded offences. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-burglary&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=35&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). United States of America: Intentional homicide, counts and rates per 100,000 population. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-homicide-count-data&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=35&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). ''United States of America: Motor Vehicle Theft at the national level, number of police-recorded offences''. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-motor-vehicle-theft&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=35&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). United States of America: Rape at the National Level, number of police-recorded offences. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-rape&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=282&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America%2A&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2016). ''United States of America: Robbery at the national level, number of police-recorded offences''. [Data File]. Retrieved from https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=crime-statistics-robbery&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=35&COUNTRY__label=United+States%20of%20America&format=html&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0