Violent crime fell in the United States last year after rising for two consecutive years and leading to a revival of tough-on-crime policies by the Trump Administration, the FBI reported Monday.
In its annual crime report, the FBI said there were an estimated 383 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2017, a decline of about one percent compared with 2016 levels. The murder rate slipped to 5.3 murders per 100,000 residents from 5.4 murders per 100,000 residents the previous year.
The state of Louisiana recorded the highest murder rate for the 29th straight year, with 12.4 murders per 100,000 residents. Among major cities, St. Louis had the highest murder rate, recording 66.1 murders per 100,000 residents.
The decline in violent crime appears to have continued into 2018, with preliminary data showing overall violent crime down nearly five percent and murder down more than six percent.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions credited Trump administration policies with the lowering of the violent crime and murder rates.
“That is the kind of results you get when you support law enforcement,” Sessions said.