Homicide Rate Takes Big Plunge 12% Drop Largest Since Studies Began In 1960

Murders in the United States dropped 12 percent in the first half of 1995 - the sharpest decline since the FBI began keeping tabs on six-month reported crime totals in 1960, the bureau said Sunday.

In cities with more than 1 million people, murders reported to police fell 19 percent from the total in the first six months of 1994, according to the FBI.

The sharp homicide declines came against the backdrop of decreases in violent crime and a smaller drop in overall serious crime.

Experts attributed the decline to a combination of the aging of baby boomers, police efforts aimed at drug gangs and their guns, and the development of stable turf agreements between drug traffickers.

Jeremy Travis, director of the National Institute of Justice, said increased attention to domestic violence may also be paying off. The decline in murder included a drop in spousal homicide.

FBI Director Louis J. Freeh warned, however, that the statistics also show great cause for alarm. Violent crime still remains at an “intolerable level,” he said.

While murder showed the sharpest drop, forcible rape was down 7 percent; robbery, 10 percent; and aggravated assault, 2 percent. Among property crimes, larceny-theft was the only offense to increase - up 3 percent. The declines included burglary, 4 percent; motor vehicle theft, 5 percent; and arson, 7 percent.

On a regional basis, serious crime increased in the the first half of 1995 only in the West, where it was up 2 percent.

In the city of Spokane, 21 murders were reported this year, breaking the record of 19 in 1983. In Spokane County, violent crime is up 25 percent since 1993.

The Northeast and South each experienced 2 percent declines and the Midwest a 1 percent drop.

, DataTimes