2004 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, FBI, June 6, 2005 [indicating that the nation's murder rate dropped 3.6 percent in 2004, while violent crimes were down 1.7 percent]. Excerpt:

The number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement agencies in the United States decreased 1.7 percent in 2004 when compared to 2003 data. The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The number of property crimes reported in 2004 declined 1.8 percent when compared to figures reported from the previous year. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also a property crime, but data for arson are not included in property crime totals. Reports of arson declined 6.8 percent in 2004 compared to the number of reports in 2003.

Read the full text of the report here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.