VIOLENT CRIME RATE REMAINED UNCHANGED WHILE THEFT RATE DECLINED IN 2008
"The violent crime rate in 2008—19.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older—was unchanged from the previous year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, announced today. The property crime rate declined during 2008 from 147 to 135 crimes per 1,000 households, primarily as a result of decreases in theft and motor vehicle theft.

In 2008, an estimated 4.9 million violent crimes (rapes or sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults and simple assaults) occurred, as well as an estimated 16.3 million property crimes (burglaries, motor vehicle thefts and household thefts) and 137,000 personal thefts (picked pockets and snatched purses). These offenses included both crimes reported and unreported to police. With the exception of theft and motor vehicle theft, victimization rates for every type of crime measured were unchanged from the 2007 levels..."

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PROGRAM SUCCEEDS IN REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME
"The Department of Justice today announced research findings showing that the Project Safe Neighborhoods program (PSN) has been successful in reducing violent crime. An evaluation of the nation-wide program found a statistically significant decline in violent crime in cities where PSN existed or where the program — which targets gun crime, in particular — is vigorously implemented.

“These findings are important information for everyone working to keep our communities safe,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Laurie Robinson. “The evidence of success with the PSN framework underscores the importance of continuing to develop crime and violence reduction approaches centered on cooperation and coordination.”

Project Safe Neighborhoods is an initiative to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun and gang crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. The program focuses on hiring new federal and state prosecutors, supporting investigators, providing training, distributing gun lock safety kits, deterring juvenile gun crime, and promoting community outreach efforts as well as supporting other gun and gang violence reduction strategies. The enhanced use of crime analysis and tactical intelligence supports the program’s core strategies of targeted enforcement and deterrence. Additional program information is available