News

2003 Maine Crime Statistics

Augusta--Crime in Maine during 2003 decreased -2.1% over the previous year according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. The department's numbers showed an increase of +1.4% for violent crime and a decrease of -2.3% for property crime. Overall crime in Maine has decreased in four of the past five years for a total of 9.6%. The only year in the past five to show an increase was 2001 (+3.7%).

Domestic violence assaults increased +11.4% in 2003 (5,364 in 2003 compared to 4,813 in 2002). Domestic violence went down in 2002 by -2.2%, but increased in 2001(+9.7%) and 2000 (+12.5%).

There were 17 murders in 2003 and 8 of those deaths stemmed from domestic violence or 47% involving family or household members or those involved in a relationship. There were a total of 14 homicides in 2002, 19 in 2001 and 14 in 2000. The historic average is 25 homicides a year in Maine.
Rape decreased -9.7% in 2003 following four years of increases. There were 353 rapes in 2003 compared to 391 in 2002. Rape had increased a total of 58.4% in the four previous years in Maine.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael P. Cantara said the numbers show that additional work is needed to stem the rise in domestic violence.
Cantara said, " Domestic violence persists as a widespread problem in Maine demanding the constant attention of law enforcement, victim advocates and prosecutors."

The Commissioner also said he was troubled by the rape numbers, even though 2003 saw a decrease. "We must encourage victims to come forward to report sexual assault and there is a network of service providers in Maine ready to assist. Perpetrators can only be held accountable if these sexual assaults are reported to police," Cantara said.

Robbery increased +7.4% and aggravated assaults increased +4.7%.
For property crimes, motor vehicle thefts increased +2.5% (from 1,418 to 1,453), burglary decreased -5.2% (from 6,944 to 6,582); and larceny-theft decreased -1.8% (from 24,496 to 24,057). Arson increased +12.1% (174 in 2002 to 195 in 2003). Property value damaged in arson fires totaled $1,119,802 during 2003 compared to $1,993,446 lost in 2002.

The value of property stolen during 2003 was $23,771,671 compared to $24,464,621 in 2002. Police recovered $8,093,601 of the stolen property for a 34.0% recovery rate, compared to the 2002 rate of 31.0%.

Overall crime in urban areas decreased by -1.8%. Urban areas are made of communities with full time police departments. Urban crimes showing a decrease were burglary (-2.4%) and larceny-theft (-2.7%).

Offenses increasing in the urban areas were rape (+6.3%), robbery (+12.6), aggravated assault (+2.3), motor vehicle theft (+6.8), and arson (+14.6%).
Rural areas, patrolled by state police and sheriffs' departments, showed a decrease of -3.1%.

Crimes decreasing in the rural areas were rape (-53.8%), robbery (-47.8%), burglary (-10.4%), motor vehicle theft (-6.9%) and arson (-11.8%). Rural crimes showing an increase were aggravated assault (+13.8%), and larceny-theft (+2.9%).

The Uniform Crime Reporting Division (UCR) at the Maine Department of Public Safety tabulates the crime numbers each year. The numbers are based on reported crimes from local, county and state law enforcement agencies. The UCR statistics show that 33,708 index offenses were reported to police during 2003, compared to 34,434 during 2002, for a total decrease of 2.1%.

Offenses comprising the crime index include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. The 33,708 index offenses in 2003 represent a crime rate of 25.81 offenses per 1,000 people within Maine.

That number compares to the national average of 41.18 offenses (in 2002). Maine's 2002 crime rate was 26.60.

The total number of persons arrested, summoned or cited by police increased in 2003 by +1.2% (46,397 adults and 9,299 juveniles in 2003 compared to 45,749 adults and 9,287 juveniles in 2002). Adult arrests increased by +1.4% and juvenile arrests increased by +0.1% during the year.

Maine police agencies cleared, mostly by arrest, summons or citation, 9,349 offenses for a clearance rate of 27.7% in 2003, the same percentage rate as the year before. There were 9,542 clearances in 2002.

The crime rate for violent crime in Maine for 2003 was 1.09 offenses per 1,000 population compared to the national average of 5.0 per 1,000 (for 2002).

These statistics are preliminary figures and subject to change until actual posting of "Crime in Maine" later in the year. "Crime in Maine" is the annual publication of reported crime statistics from UCR. Past "Crime in Maine" numbers are on the Department of Public Safety's web page at www.Maine.gov/dps .

Questions about local trends should be directed to police chiefs and sheriffs for detailed local crime statistics.