The FBI [official website] released estimated crime statistics [FBI annual report] for 2016 on Monday, which revealed [press release] a 4.1 percent increase in violent crimes committed when compared to 2015.

The report “is a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) [official website] Program.” The publication includes statistics for severe crimes including murder, rape, arson and robbery, among others.

Each crime report is broken down by location, agency, or the like, and contains several statistics reports. One data table for human sex trafficking statistics reveals Texas far surpassed any other state with 485 perpetrator arrests [data table]. Nationally, violent crime was estimated at “386.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants,” with 1,248,185 total, and property crime at “2,450.7 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants,” with 7,919,035 total.

The UCR Program was created over 30 years ago, yet not all states, cities, and counties participate. The FBI hopes the New UCR Program [materials] launched in February will increase agency participation in all 50 states for more accurate reporting.