BJS Director Jan Chaiken stated the decline in the violent victimization rate began in 1994 and interrupted a rising trend that had existed since the mid-1980s, and theft offenses continued a 20-year pattern of declining rates. BJS estimates there were 39.6 million personal and household crimes of theft and violence during 1995, compared to 42.4 million the year before, which is a 6.6-percent decline. In 1995 rape decreased almost 18 percent, robbery fell 14 percent, aggravated assault declined 19 percent, and purse-snatching and pocket-picking were down 18 percent. Murders were not included in BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey because of an inability to interview victims. According to the FBI's preliminary 1995 data, murder estimates fell 8 percent from the level of the previous year. Approximately 14.4 million of the violent and property crimes were reported to the police during 1995, down from the 15.2 million reported the previous year. 3 tables and 1 figure