MAJOR CRIME CONTINUES TO DECLINE

WASHINGTON, - Serious crime in the United States, which
rose to record heights with the advent of crack cocaine in American
cities in the

1980s, has dropped for the seventh year in a row.

In a report released Sunday evening, the FBI says preliminary figures
in the nationwide Uniform Crime Report show all serious crime
decreased 7 percent in 1998, as opposed to 1997.

The drop reflected a 7 percent decline in both violent and property
crime. Varying decreases were reported in all the nation's regions.

The preliminary figures also show robbery had the greatest decline, 11
percent; murder, 8 percent, and forcible rape (as distinguished from
statutory rape committed by an adult on a minor) and aggravated
assault, 5 percent each.

Last week, Attorney General Janet Reno attributed some of the decrease
in violent crimes to the Brady Law, which she said has stopped a
quarter-million illegal handgun sales since its implementation in 1995.

In property crime, reported motor vehicle thefts were down 10 percent,
followed by burglary and arson, 7 percent each; and larceny-thefts, 6
percent.

All the country's regions showed a continuing pattern of fewer
reported crimes.

The Northeast and West reported the greatest declines in all types of
serious crime, with 8 percent each. The South reported a 6 percent drop; the
Midwest, 4 percent.

In violent crime alone, the West was down 9 percent; the Northeast and
the South, 7 percent each, and the Midwest, 4 percent.

All regions also reported a drop in murders.

The Northeast and West recorded the greatest drop at 11 percent each;
the South, 7 percent, and the Midwest, 5 percent.

Property crime also decreased 8 percent in both the Northeast and the
West, while the South saw a 6 percent drop and the Midwest, 4 percent.

City groups of all sizes reported decreases. Serious crime declined by
8 percent in cities with populations between 250,000 and just under 1
million. The smallest decreases in this category were recorded by
cities of under 10,000.

Suburban counties saw a 7 percent drop; rural counties, 5
percent.

The complete preliminary report, available on the Interent, also
breaks down crimes by category for particular major cities. For
instance, New York City reported serious crime overall dropped from
355, 884 in 1997 to 323,192 last year. Murders in New York City
dropped from 770 to 633.

Final UCR figures are expected to be published in the fall in the
FBI's ``Crime in the United States.''

More than 17,000 city, county and state law enforcment agencies
voluntarily report crimes to the program.