Violent and Non-Violent Crimes

Crimes are classified by index offenses.  There are seven Index I offenses: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, breaking or entering, larceny and motor vehicle theft. These are typically categorized as violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and property crimes (breaking or entering, larceny and motor vehicle theft) to provide basic measures of crime.

 

South Carolina's violent crime rate decreased 6.7% from 2007 to 2008.  Since 1975 the statewide violent crime rate has increased 42.9%.  Of all 46 South Carolina Counties, Spartanburg ranked 29th for rate of violent crimes in 2008.  All three peer counties had higher rates of violent crime  (Table 16).

South Carolina's property crime rate decreased less than 1% from 2007 to 2008. From 1975 to 2008, the property crime rate increased 6.9%.  Of all 46 South Carolina Counties, Spartanburg ranked 19th for rate of property crimes in 2008.  Of peer counties, only Greenville had a lower rate of property crimes.

·         South Carolina's violent crime arrest rate decreased 2.1% from 2007 to 2008. From 1976 through 2008, the violent crime arrest rate has increased 14.1%.

·         South Carolina's arrest rate for weapons law violations decreased 6.8% from 2007 to 2008. From 1976 through 2008, the arrest rate decreased 26.4%.

·         South Carolina's drug law arrest rate decreased 9.8% from 2007 to 2008. From 1976 through 2008, the arrest rate increased 197.7%.

·         South Carolina's DUI arrest rate increased 23.5% from 2007 to 2008.  From 1976 through 2008, the DUI arrest rate decreased 48.3%.

·         South Carolina's liquor law arrest rate increased 8.4% from 2007 to 2008.  From 1976 through 2008, the liquor law arrest rate has increased 83.9%.

·         South Carolina's drunkenness arrest rate increased 6.8% from 2007 to 2008. The drunkenness arrest rate has decreased 79.8% since 1976.