PROVIDENCE – The violent crime rate in Rhode Island declined 2.9 percent from 2016 to 2017, from 239.1 per 100,000 people to 232.2 per 100,000 residents, according to new data released by the FBI this week.
The violent crime rate – which includes murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – per 100,000 residents across the United States in 2017 was 394 per 100,000 people, a decline of 0.9 percent over the year. The violent crime rate in New England was 273.6 per 100,000 in 2017, a 3.5 percent decline from the previous year.
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The violent crime rate per 100,000 in Rhode Island was the second highest in the New England region, ahead of only Massachusetts at 358 per 100,000. The lowest violent crime rate in the region and the country was in Maine at 121 per 100,000, followed by Vermont at 165.8 per 100,000, New Hampshire at 198.7 per 100,000 and Connecticut at 228 per 100,000.
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
The Rhode Island murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate per 100,000 declined 31.2 percent year over year to 1.9 from 2016 to 2017. The U.S. murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate per 100,00 residents was 5.3 in 2017. In New England the rate was 2.3 per 100,000, an increase from 2 per 100,000 in 2016.
Rape
The rape rate per 100,000 in Rhode Island was 42, a 0.2 percent decline from 2016. The 2017 rape rate per 100,000 in the U.S. was 41.7, a 1.8 percent increase year over year. In New England, the rape rate per 100,000 residents was 32.6, a 5.4 percent increase year over year.
Robbery
The robbery rate per 100,000 in the Ocean State declined 12.6 percent to 44.7 per 100,000, compared with the national rate of 98 per 100,000 and the New England rate of 60.2 per 100,000.
In 2017, more than $13.5 billion worth of property was reported stolen nationwide, and nearly $4 billion (29.2 percent) was recovered.
Aggravated assault
The aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in Rhode Island was 143.5, a slight increase from 143.2 in 2016. In the U.S., the aggravated assault rate per 100,000 was 248.9 in 2017, while in New England, the rate per 100,000 was 178.4.
Property crime
The property crime rate in Rhode Island per 100,000 was 1,751 in 2017, a 2 percent decline from 2016. The U.S. property crime rate in 2017 was 2,362 per 100,000, compared with the New England rate of 1,541 per 100,000.
College and University crime data
The report also included university and college crime data for both Brown University and the University of Rhode Island.
Brown University had no violent crimes reported in 2017, but did have 118 property crimes reported, including 14 burglaries and 104 larceny theft offenses.
URI reported seven violent crime offenses in 2017, including four rapes, three aggravated assaults and 75 property crime offenses, which included two burglaries, 72 larceny theft offenses and one motor vehicle theft.
Stonehill College was also included in the report, with eight violent crimes in 2017 known to law enforcement, incluindg five rapes, three aggravated assaults, and 12 property crimes, which included one burglary and 11 larceny-theft offenses.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
