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VIRGINIA STATE CRIME COMMISSION - ANNUAL REPORT, 1977

NCJ Number
47441
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
119 pages
Annotation
CRIME STATISTICS, DISCUSSIONS OF MAJOR CRIME PROBLEMS IN THE STATE, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND ILLEGAL HARD NARCOTIC TRAFFICKING CONTINUE AS CHIEF CONCERNS OF VIRGINIA'S CITIZENS. THIS IS TRUE DESPITE THE FACT THAT CRIME IN GENERAL CONTINUES TO SHOW A DOWNWARD TREND IN MANY LOCALITIES IN THE STATE. IT IS BELIEVED THE DECREASE IS DUE, FOR THE MOST PART, TO THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. ACCORDING TO FIGURES OF THE VIRGINIA UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, THE MOST NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN THE SEVEN MAJOR CATEGORIES OF CRIME WAS IN ROBBERY. THIS DECLINED 12.92 PERCENT. THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 7.79 PERCENT IN RAPE, WITH NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE CASES BEING REPORTED IN THREE METROPOLITAN AREAS. THERE WAS AN OVERALL DECREASE OF 2.11 PERCENT IN OFFENSES REPORTED IN THE SEVEN MAJOR CATEGORIES OF CRIME FROM 1976. IN ITS STUDY OF CRIME IN THE STATE, THE CRIME COMMISSION FOUND GREAT SIMILARITY IN THE PROBLEMS STATEWIDE. BREAKING AND ENTERING, BURGLARY AND LARCENY, EVEN THOUGH ON THE DECLINE, REMAIN WITH DRUGS AS MAJOR CRIME PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH THE THEFT OF CARS AND PARTS. PARTICULAR EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO A SENTIMENT AMONG CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LARGER CITIES, FOR A RETURN TO FOOT PATROLMEN. OTHER TOPICS GIVEN SPECIAL TREATMENT IN THE REPORT INCLUDE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN TROUBLE, CRIME IN VIRGINIA AND HANDGUNS, CORRECTIONS, LOCAL JAILS, PROBATION AND PAROLE, REHABILITATIVE SCHOOL AUTHORITY, FALSE BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARMS, SENTENCING, FORENSIC SCIENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, AND LEGISLATION. EXTENSIVE CRIME STATISTICS ARE ALSO PRESENTED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A UNIFORM CRIME REPORT, INFORMATION ON CORRECTIONS POPULATION, ESCAPES, AND CATEGORIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING. (RCB)