The FBI Releases 2015 Crime Statistics for Washington State
Today, the FBI released its annual compilation of crimes reported to its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by law enforcement agencies from around the nation. Crime in theUnited States, 2015 reveals a 3.9 percent increase in the estimated number of violent crimes and a 2.6 percent decrease in the estimated number of property crimes last year when compared to 2014 data.
The UCR Program collects data on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies regarding the violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault; as well as the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In addition to the offenses listed above, the UCR Program also collects arrest data for 20 other offenses that include all other crimes except traffic violations.
Highlights for Washington are:
1. The rate of violent crime for Washington’s cities decreased from 285.8 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants in 2014 to 284.4 in 2015. Nationally, the estimated rate of violent crime was 383.2 per 100,000 city inhabitants.
2. The rate of property crime for Washington’s cities decreased from 3,698.9 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants in 2014 to 3,463.8 in 2015. Nationally, the estimated rate of property crimes was 2,487.0 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants.*
The breakdown for Washington cities with populations of more than 100,000 people is:
Bellevue
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
2
2
Rape
25
19
Robbery
65
61
Aggravated Assault
52
70
Burglary
630
789
Larceny-theft
3,662
3,321
Motor vehicle theft
314
221
Arson 14 22
Everett
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
2
5
Rape
43
44
Robbery
135
148
Aggravated assault
184
225
Burglary
1,198
974
Larceny-theft
4,660
4,316
Motor vehicle theft
1,089
908
Arson
18
33
Kent
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
3
5
Rape
65
61
Robbery
160
144
Aggravated Assault
132
128
Burglary
1,019
905
Larceny-theft
4,243
4,257
Motor vehicle theft
981
1,007
Arson
19
19
Renton
(population was 98,240 in 2014 and 100,015 in 2015)
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
5
4
Rape
23
41
Robbery
84
100
Aggravated Assault
117
155
Burglary
734
1,175
Larceny-theft
3,651
3,715
Motor vehicle theft
822
905
Arson
11
6
Seattle
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
26
23
Rape
154
144
Robbery
1,567
1,532
Aggravated assault
2,254
2,394
Burglary
7,099
7,677
Larceny-theft
28,036
26,199
Motor vehicle theft
5,514
3,878
Arson
79
92
Spokane
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
10
12
Rape
117**
119**
Robbery
416
333
Aggravated assault
613
647
Burglary
3,365
2,817
Larceny-theft
12,455
11,408
Motor vehicle theft
2,242
1,746
Arson
56
47
Tacoma
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
12
12
Rape
134
147
Robbery
510
485
Aggravated assault
969
1,050
Burglary
3,127
2,552
Larceny-theft
7,521
8,492
Motor vehicle theft
2,073
2,021
Arson
67
70
Vancouver
2014
2015
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
6
2
Rape
89
112
Robbery
151
137
Aggravated assault
331
420
Burglary
821
943
Larceny-theft
3,617
3,740
Motor vehicle theft
821
871
Arson
47
69
*The property crime estimate does not include arson. Although the FBI classifies arson as a property crime, it does not estimate arson data nationally because of variations in the level of participation by reporting agencies.
**This city uses legacy data, which may not include all offenses in the current definition of rape. In 2013, the UCR definition of rape was changed. For a complete explanation of the change in definition please refer to the addendum in the UCR.
For specific information on other cities within Washington, please refer to the crime table.
Also available is a portion of the crime statistics by state, showing crimes in Washington by population groups.
Across the nation, more than 18,000 city, county, state, federal, college/university, and tribal law enforcement agencies voluntarily contribute data to this annual report.
The FBI simply compiles the information as it is provided from local jurisdictions. You will need to contact those local jurisdictions for any analysis of the numbers listed above. Also note that the report features a prominent message cautioning against using the statistics to rank cities or counties. Such rankings can lead to simplistic or incomplete analyses, overlooking the many variables impacting crime and its reporting.
The FBI has been producing the Uniform Crime Report since 1930.
* Full report: Crime in the US, 2015
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
