Indicator: 71 - Crime

Why This Is Important

Crime is an important indicator because it adds to the cost of conducting business and to the tax burden for prosecution and incarceration of criminals. In addition, lower crime rates mean Maine offers individuals and businesses a safe environment in which to live, raise children and do business.

Where We Stand

In 2001, there were 26.96 incidents of crime in Maine per 1,000 people, a slight 2.7% rise from the 2000 rate. The national rate in 2001 was 41.61 incidents per 1,000 people, a 0.9% increase in the number of incidents from 2000.

Crime rates in both Maine and the United States dropped during much of the 1990’s, with Maine’s rate consistently below the nation’s. Experts point out that young males are declining as a percent of our overall population, and this changing demographic contributes to the lowering of the crime rate. In Maine, an aging population also contributes to the state’s declining crime rate.

Data Sources and Context

Crime data is generated by local law enforcement agencies as part of the National Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. This program is administered by the State Police in Maine, and all the state’s UCR crime data is published annually in Crime in Maine (available on-line at http://www.maine.gov/dps/cim/crime_in_maine /cim.htm).  U.S. crime data is available from the Federal Bureau of Investigation at http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/01cius.htm.