U.S. Violent Crime Increases 2019-2020, But Decreases From 1990-2020

RAND State Statistics recently updated its Crimes & Arrests database, reporting the number of offenses (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson) and auxiliary offense data (e.g., burglary: forcible entry, unlawful entry, and attempted entry) for each agency reporting data to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) in the U.S. States. The database also reports the number of reported offenses cleared by arrest or exceptional means and the number of clearances that involved only juveniles (under 18 years of age). The number of crimes and crime rates from 1974-1999 excludes Sheriff's offices in all counties.

From 2019 to 2020, violent crimes in the U.S. increased from 1,147,537 to 1,177,360, a 2.6% annual growth rate (see Table 1). South Dakota saw the largest increase in violent crime during this time, growing from 3,023 to 4,166, or 37.8%. Other states with significant violent crime increases were North Carolina (25.2%), Mississippi (22.4%), North Dakota (19.2%), and Colorado (19.1%). Violent crimes in Pennsylvania decreased from 33,011 to 10,803, a fall of 67.3%. Puerto Rico (-37.0%), Maryland (-24.1%), Vermont (-14.5%), and New Jersey (-5.7%) also saw decreases in violent crime during this one-year period (see Figure 1). It is unclear if these decreases were driven in part by defintional or reporting changes.

Table 1 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Violent Crimes, United States, 2019-2020

Figure 1 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Violent Crimes, United States, 2019-2020

From 2019 to 2020, gun assault rates in the U.S. increased from 201,629 to 282,151, or 39.9% (see Table 1). North Dakota had an even steeper increase of gun assaults at 175.8%, rising from 33 to 91 between 2019 and 2020. However, as noted, North Dakota started with a very low baseline compared to other states. Notable increases were also seen in Indiana (124.6%), Illinois (75.6%), West Virginia (63.6%), and Wisconsin (60.3%). Pennsylvania dropped from 4,258 in 2019 to 2,397, a decrease of 43.7%, followed by Vermont (-20.6%), Maryland (3.7%), Maine (5.6%), and Hawaii (8.1%) (see Figure 2).

Table 2 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Gun Assault, United States, 2019-2020

Figure 2 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Gun Assault, United States, 2019-2020

From 1990 to 2020, the U.S. saw a 22.0% decrease of violent crimes, dropping from 1,508,731 to 1,177,360 (see Table 3). North Dakota saw the largest increase of violent crime, rising from 292 in 1990 to 2,519 in 2020, a growth of 762.7%, an average annual growth rate of 7.4%. Other states with large increases during this time were Montana (691.3%), South Dakota (405.0%), Wisconsin (269.5%), and Virginia (258.3%) (see Figure 3).

Table 3 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Violent Crimes, United States, 1990-2020

Figure 3 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Violent Crimes, United States, 1990-2020

From 1990 to 2020, U.S. gun assaults increased 47.0%, growing from 191,949 to 282,151 (see Table 4). Wisconsin saw a notable increase, growing 2030.2% from 212 to 4,516 over these 30 years, an average annual rate of 10.6%. Other states with large increases of gun assaults were Virginia (1744.9%), North Dakota (727.3%), Montana (693.2%), and Nevada (560.8%). Illinois had the most signifiant decrease, dropping from 17,393 gun assults in 1990 to 971 in 2020, a 94.4% decrease, followed by New York (-60.6%), Connecticut (-52.5%), Pennsylvania (-42.5%), and the District of Columbia (-34.5%) (see Figure 4).

Table 4 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Gun Assaults, United States, 1990-2020

Figure 4 - Crimes & Crimes Rates For Gun Assaults, United States, 1990-2020

To compare violent crimes in the U.S from 1990 to 2020, see Figures 5 and 6. To compare gun assaults in the U.S. from 1990 to 2020,see Figures 7 and 8.