Violent Crime Statistics in 2010

Violent crimes are classified in four categories consisting of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Crime statistics are initially collected by individual police departments at the time a criminal defendant is booked at a police station however this data is collected and compiled nationally by the FBI in what is called the UCR (Universal Crime Reporting Program). This allows the nation and individual law enforcement agencies to assess how effective their tactics are working to combat particular crime types as well projecting crime trends to show where new strategies need to be employed.

Violent crimes have been on a downward trend overall for 2010 totaling at an estimated 1,246,248 reported violent crimes throughout the nation. Of the violent crimes reported during 2010 the largest majority occurred in aggravated assaults which made up for 62.5% followed by robberies which made up for 29.5% of the violent crimes reported. Rape was reported to make up 6.8% and lastly murder made up for 1.2% of the nation's violent crime occurrences for the year.

Overall the nation's number of violent crimes has decrease 6% from 2009 and has been on a steady decrease for the past 5 and 10 year comparisons. When referring to violent crimes, it is implied that a weapon is generally used to commit these offenses. As such statistics on the weapon type used in these crimes is recorded and published by the FBI with the exception of rape reports which do not record and publish statistics on the type of weapon used.

Firearms are of particular conce
to law enforcement agents so data on weapons used in crimes and in specific regions of the nation are important to ensuring that our law enforcement agents are properly prepared for any situation they may encounter. Nationwide firearms were used in 67.5% of the nation's murders, 41.4% of the nation's robberies and 20.6% of the nation's aggravated assaults.

Homicide Weapon Statistics:
67.5% of murders used a firearm.
13.1% of murders used a knife or cutting instrument.
13.6% of murders used an unknown or dangerous weapon.
5.8% of murders involved unarmed assailants.

Robbery Weapon Statistics:
41.4% of robberies occurred using a firearm.
7.9% of robberies occurred using a knife or cutting instrument.
8.8% of robberies occurred using other weapon types.
42.0% of robberies were classified as "strong-arm" robberies.

Assault Weapon Statistics:
20.6% of aggravated assaults occurred using a firearm.
19.0% of aggravated assaults occurred using a knife or cutting instrument.
33.1% of aggravated assaults occurred using other weapons (clubs, blunt, etc).
27.4% of assaults were reported by unarmed assailants.

These statistics are further broken up to indicate weapon percentages which occurred in generalized areas of the country typically consisting of the Northeast, Midwest, West and South. The data collected in these reports can help fuel legislation such as gun control laws, concealed weapon laws and police search and seizure laws for particular states.

Northeaste
United States:

Firearm stats:
64.4% in homicides reported, 33.4% in robberies reported, 14.9% in assaults reported.

Knife and cutting instrument stats:
16.5% in homicides reported, 10.2% in robberies reported, 22.4% in assaults reported.

Other weapons (blunt, unknown) stats:
14.5% in homicides reported, 8.6% in robberies reported, 34.2% in assaults reported.

Unarmed stats:
4.6% in homicides reported, 47.7% in robberies reported, 28.4% in assaults reported.

Midweste
United States:

Firearm stats:
71.9% in homicides reported, 45.0% in robberies reported, 23.6% in assaults reported.

Knife and cutting instrument stats:
8.7% in homicides reported, 5.4% in robberies reported, 17.1% in assaults reported.

Other weapons (blunt, unknown) stats:
14.1% in homicides reported, 9.2% in robberies reported, 29.5% in assaults reported.

Unarmed stats:
5.3% in homicides reported, 40.3% in robberies reported, 29.8% in assaults reported.

Western United States:
Firearm stats:
65.0% in homicides reported, 31.8% in robberies reported, 17.5% in assaults reported.

Knife and cutting instrument stats:
14.9% in homicides reported, 9.1% in robberies, 17.4% in assaults.

Other weapons (blunt, unknown) stats:
13.6% in homicides, 9.4% in robberies, 34.0% in assaults.

Unarmed stats:
6.6% in homicides, 49.7% in robberies, 31.1% in assaults.

Southern United States:
Firearm stats:
68.1% in homicides, 49.5% in robberies, 17.5% in assaults reported.

Knife and cutting instrument stats:
12.8% in homicides, 7.0% in robberies, 17.4% in assaults.

Other weapons (blunt, unknown) stats:
13.0% in homicides, 8.2% in robberies, 34.0% in assaults.

Unarmed stats:
6.1% in homicides, 35.3% in robberies, 31.1% in assaults.