Tuesday, April 30, 1996

All areas of major crime down in Texas

By PEGGY FIKAC
Associated Press

AUSTIN - Texas last year saw its lowest murder rate since 1965, and there were decreases in almost every other major crime as well, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Theft was the only offense in the state's Crime Index that went up from 1994 to 1995, with a 1.4 percent increase in the total number reported, the agency said Monday.

"While it is disappointing that incidences of theft increased, it is good news to us that all other categories of index crimes have shown a decrease. We are especially pleased to see that violent crimes have decreased," said Col. James Wilson, DPS director.

The murder rate in Texas dropped to nine per 100,000 people in 1995, the lowest since 1965's 7.5 per 100,000, according to DPS. The total number of murders in 1995 was 1,694, a 16.3 percent decrease from 1994.

The other index crimes, and percentage decrease in total number reported in 1995, are:
- Rape, down 6.4 percent.
- Aggravated assault, down 0.9 percent.
- Robbery, down 10.6 percent.
- Burglary, down 5.6 percent.
- Motor vehicle theft, down 5.3 percent.

Taken together, the number of all index crimes reported for 1995 was 1,064,362. That's a 1.4 percent decrease from 1994.

The index crime rate, or number of major crimes committed per 100,000 population, fell 3.2 percent overall to 5,684.5, the DPS reported.

The crime rate dropped in every major category, with a 6.1 percent overall drop in violent crime and 2.8 percent overall drop in property crime.

The estimated value of property taken during the commission of index crimes in 1995 was more than $1.2 billion, while law enforcement agencies recovered more than $500 million in stolen property.

The number of arrests of juveniles increased 2.4 percent, well below the 15.6 percent increase from 1993 to 1994, according to DPS.

Wilson called that a good sign but added that juvenile crimes "continue to be a source of concern for law enforcement agencies statewide."

Victims rights advocate Bob Stearns, whose son was kidnapped and killed in 1974, said the reduction in major crime categories may reflect Texas' ambitious prison-expansion program and the initial effect of laws designed to keep violent criminals locked up longer.

"We've changed the laws. We've changed the prison population size. And we've made it possible to keep violent people away from the public. That should mean a reduction in violent crimes," said Stearns, founder of Victims Initiating Gains In Legislation (VIGIL).