SLED report shows state’s violent, property crime rates down in 2013

The state’s overall rates in violent and property crimes decreased in 2013, according to the latest data released from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

SLED Chief Mark Keel said the rate of violent crime decreased 12.2 percent in 2013 compared to 2012. The rate of property crime also decreased in 2013 by 5.7 percent from the previous year.

Keel said the rate for murder and non-negligent homicide decreased by 14.7 percent from 2012 to 2013, which was the largest recorded decrease in crime reflected in the report.

Even though there was a decrease in violent and property crimes, Keel said, “the number of assaults on law enforcement officers in our state increased 6.3 percent in 2013.”

The information in the report was compiled in the annual Uniform Crime Report, which provides a snapshot of criminal activity in the state. The figures were compiled from sheriff and police departments statewide, and the rates in the report are per 10,000 inhabitants.

In previous Uniform Crime Reports, only the most serious offense in any incident was reported by the state’s departments. Keel said the 2013 report used a new incident-based reporting system in which in-depth data on every criminal offense from an incident was recorded.

“Our great thanks to the sheriffs, chiefs of police, their officers and staff who protect our communities and contribute the data for this report,” Keel said. “I want to commend our colleagues at the state Department of Public Safety for assisting SLED in completing this report.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 2:33 PM with the headline "SLED report shows state’s violent, property crime rates down in 2013."