An introduction to the criminal justice data center and to the Montana Uniform Crime Reporting Program is presented, and data tables, charts, graphs, and maps give a statistical picture of crime in the State. For the first time in 3 years, the number of index crimes has increased. Offenses against property increased 12.8 percent, while offenses against persons decreased 5.9 percent. Crimes against property accounted for 94.7 percent of all reported offenses and occurred every 16 minutes. From 1970 through 1979, the number of crimes increased 74 percent, while the estimated population increased only 13.2 percent. Of every 100 Montanans, 4.4 were victims of an index crime, and 6.7 were victims of either an index crime or a serious crime. Of the 34,880 major offenses known, only 1 of every 4 were cleared by arrest or by exceptional means. A graph illustrates increases and decreases in crime trends from 1970 as well as a projection to 1983 based on previous years. (Author abstract modified)