Indicator: 72 - Crime

 

Why This Is Important

Crime 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 2003, there were 25.80 incidents of crime in Maine per 1,000 people, a 3.0% drop
from the 2002 rate. The national rate in 2003 was 40.63 incidents per 1,000 people, a
1.5% drop in the number of incidents from 2002.

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.state.me.us/dps/cim/crime_in_maine/cim.htm). U.S. crime data is available from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation at http://www.fbi.gov/publications.htm .