The FBI also said Monday that the number of reported property crimes went down 0.8 percent, the ninth straight year-to-year decline.
The bureau says murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault all went down in 2011.
Violent crime decreased in all four regions: 4.9 percent in the Midwest; 4.7 percent in the West; 4.5 percent in the South and 0.8 percent in the Northeast.
Motor vehicle theft dropped 3.3 percent, and larceny-theft decreased 0.9 percent. Burglary offenses increased 0.3 percent.
The preliminary data is based on information the FBI gathered from 14,009 law enforcement agencies around the United States.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/6/249545