The UCR program defines homicide as "the willful (non-negligent)
killing of one human being by another." Generally, any death due to injuries received
in a fight, argument, quarrel, assault or commission of a crime is counted as a homicide.
Suicides, accidental deaths, assaults to murder, traffic fatalities, and attempted murders
are not counted as homicides.
The four homicides occurring during 1996 are half of the eight reported
during 1995. In looking at homicides from a historical perspective, the numbers are so
relatively small that calculating the rate of change from one year to the next can be
misleading. A more realistic gauge is the average number of incidents recorded over a
defined period.
Since 1987, the number of homicides within the City has ranged from a
low of four this year to a high of 13 in 1991. The 77 homicides recorded since 1987
averages to 7.7 per year which makes 1996 far below average.
The UCR definition of rape is "the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and
against her will." Rapes or attempts to commit rape accomplished by force or threat
of force are included while statutory rape, without force and with the female victim under
18 years of age, are excluded.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault is defined by the UCR system as "an unlawful
attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated
bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by
means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempts are included since it is not
necessary that an injury result when a gun, knife, or other weapon is used which could and
probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully
completed."
The number of aggravated assaults declined from 505 in 1995 to 442 in
1996, a 12.5% decrease. Viewed against the historical trend from 1987, this decrease is
significant. From 1987 to 1993, aggravated assaults increased 52.5%, an average of 8.8%
each year. This upward trend had a slight pause in 1991 when aggravated assaults declined
2.0%. In 1994, there was a significant 27.1% drop in aggravated assaults, followed by a
3.3% increase in 1995. The number of aggravated assaults in 1996 is the fewest since the
440 incidents recorded in 1987. In the 10 years between 1987 and 1996, the average number
of aggravated assaults was 537.6 per year. The 442 occurring in 1996 is 17.8% below this
average.
Figure 12 above gives a pictorial view of the weapons of choice for
aggravated assaults in 1996. Other dangerous weapons were utilized in 52.0% of the cases
and include, but are not limited to: clubs, bricks, jack handles, tire irons, bottles, or
other blunt instruments used to club or beat victims, explosives, acid, lye, poison,
scalding water, burning, etc.
Firearms were used in 9.5% of the assaults, followed by knives (20.1%),
and hands, fists and feet (18.3%). All of the incidents in which hands, fists, or feet
were used as the weapon resulted in serious personal injury, e.g., broken bones, internal
injuries, or where stitches were required.
The number of aggravated assaults declined in each weapon category. Of
particular note, firearms were used in two fewer assaults in 1996 than in 1995. However,
the percentage of assaults which involved a firearm rose from 8.7% in 1995 to 9.5% in
1996. Between 1987 and 1996, firearms were used in an average of 13.1% of assaults and the
9.5% is well below the mean.
Robbery
Robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value
from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or
violence and/or by putting the victim in fear." It differs from a larceny in that a
perpetrator must commit a robbery in the presence of the victim and the property is taken
by the use or threatened use of force.
The number of robberies declined from 522 incidents in 1995 to 438 in
1996. This represents a 16.1% decrease. Between 1987 and 1993, robberies increased an
average of 9.3% each year. This was in spite of an 11.8% decrease recorded between 1988
and 1989 and a meager 1.7% increase between 1992 and 1993. In 1994, robberies declined
29.2% followed by a 3.0% increase in 1995.
The predominant method of force used during 1996 robberies was physical
force, comprising 40.2% of the total. Firearms were used in 38.6% of the cases, knives in
10.0%, and other weapons including clubs, acid, explosives, brass knuckles, or other
dangerous weapons in 11.2% of the incidents. Figure 14 displays the weapons used in 1996
robberies.
Comparing the weapons used in 1995 robberies to those used in 1996,
there were declines in robberies involving firearms, knives, and physical force, and an
increase in the number of robberies in which other weapons were used.
Streets/alleys were the most frequent location or type of robbery,
accounting for 59.0% of the crimes. Figure 15 depicts the breakdown of robberies by
location or type.
The number of robberies occurring on the streets/alleys,
commercial, and gas stations declined and the number of residential, bank, and
miscellaneous robberies increased when comparing 1996 to 1995.
