One figure shows that the rate at which index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft) were reported to the Nation's law enforcement officials declined 16.4 percent from 1991 to 1996. This drop was less pronounced for the southern States, which experienced a 12.7-percent reduction in reported crime. North Carolina realized a 6.2-percent decrease in its reported crime rate during this period. A comparison of North Carolina's reported index crime rate in relation to the rest of the country shows that it was among the highest 20 States for rates of reported index crimes during the period examined; however, North Carolina's violent crime rate was below the average for both the region and the Nation. Arrest rates in North Carolina have remained higher than regional and national averages. The juvenile and young adult arrest rates of index crimes recently surpassed the regional rate; however, the national rate surpassed North Carolina's in 1996. Arrest rates for index crimes among juveniles and young adults in North Carolina remained close to the midpoint for the Nation. North Carolina had higher probation supervision rates than both the regional and national average, and it has sentenced offenders to State institutions at a rate below the regional average and approaching the national rate. North Carolina's incarceration rate continues to rank among the highest 25 States, becoming 17th in 1995. 9 figures