Crime reported to law enforcement agencies declined each year from 1995 through 1999. Total index offenses decreased nearly 15 percent between 1995 and 1999, from 659,080 offenses to 560,536 offenses. A decline in the number of violent offenses accounted for much of this drop. Violent offenses decreased 24 percent, and the number of property offenses decreased 13 percent. Murders declined by 23.6 percent, and criminal sexual assaults decreased 16.2 percent. Aggravated assaults, the most frequently reported violent offense, declined 20.6 percent. Among index crimes, robberies declined more than any other index offense, falling 32 percent. Burglaries declined 19.4 percent. Between 1995 and 1999, the number of violent index offenses reported to the police decreased across all Illinois regions. The rural counties experienced the largest regional decrease in the number of violent offenses, dropping 28.7 percent. Despite this decrease, the percentage of murders accounted for by the rural counties remained relatively unchanged (less than 5 percent). During the same period, violent crime decreased 24.9 percent in Cook County, followed by the urban counties (22.8 percent) and the "collar" counties (13 percent). 2 tables and 2 notes