Slight increase in violent crime, decrease in property crime in NH

According to the latest crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the violent crime rate increased slightly in New Hampshire from 2014 to 2015, while the property crime rate decreased. 

The increase in violent crime was due to more reported rapes and aggravated assaults. 

New Hampshire had the highest rate of rapes in New England.  However, this may indicate that New Hampshire law enforcement have a more proactive response to reports of rape.  According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), roughly two-thirds of sexual assaults go unreported, often because of a belief that police could not or would not help.  

New Hampshire still had the lowest murder rate in the United States, at 1.1 per 100,000.

The decrease in the property crime rate in New Hampshire was due to fewer burglaries and thefts.  There was a small increase in auto theft.

The FBI data comes from Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which gathers data from state and local law enforcement agencies around the nation.  The UCR Program is the most complete source for crimes reported to the police in the United States.  However, UCR data may not accurately reflect under-reported crimes, such as rape. 

Prior to this year, local law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire were not required to report statistics for the UCR Program, although a majority of localities did report.  In 2016 Gov. Maggie Hassan signed SB 475, which requires law enforcement to report all crimes to the Department of Safety. 

Do you have an opinion about New Hampshire crime rates?  Share your thoughts in the comments.