Major Crime Rate in Texas Holds Steady in 2009

LIBERTY, May 10, 2010 - The major crime rate in Texas increased slightly in 2009, according to data compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, while the violent crime rate was down. The Department of Public Safety compiles the statistics collected each year by more than 1,000 local police agencies.

Compared with 2008, the crime rate—the number of crimes per 100,000 population in Texas— increased 0.3 percent in 2009. The violent crime rate decreased 3.3 percent in 2009 from 2008. The property crime rate increased 0.8 percent in 2009.

Of the seven index crime rates, murder was down 3.6 percent; motor vehicle thefts decreased by 11.9 percent in 2009. Rape increased 1.5 percent in 2009 over the previous year.

The number of juvenile arrests in 2009 decreased 4.4 percent from 2008, while adult arrests increased 1.9 percent.

The number of assaults on police officers in 2009 showed a 9.2 percent decrease from 2008. Six law enforcement officers were killed feloniously in the line of duty in 2009, and two died in duty-related crashes.

The Texas Uniform Crime Reporting Program also collects statistics on hate crimes and family violence incidents.

In 2009, Texas law enforcement agencies reported 166 incidents of hate crimes involving 175 victims and 187 offenders. This was a decrease of 32.5 percent over 2008.

Law enforcement agencies reported 196,713 family violence incidents involving 212,106 victims and 207,315 offenders in 2009. This was an increase of 1.7 percent over 2008.

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