SPRINGFIELD — Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood is pleased to share that overall part one crime has decreased in the City of Springfield for the seventh consecutive year, according to FBI data.
The data, released on Monday, Sept. 27 in the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report (UCR), shows that overall part one crime decreased in Springfield by 4% from 2019 to 2020. After a 25-year low in 2019, the city saw a slight uptick in violent crime in 2020 which is contributed to approximately 100 more reported aggravated assaults than the prior year.
The amount of violent crime reported in the City of Springfield was the third lowest since the FBI began releasing the UCR in 1995. Nationally, violent crime is up approximately 5.6% from 2019 to 2020 and murders increased by nearly 30% across the country.
In Springfield,
- From 2019 to 2020, Overall Crime decreased by 4%
- From 2019 to 2020, Violent Crime increased by 6%
- From 2019 to 2020, Property Crime decreased by 7%
- From 2010 to 2020, Overall Crime decreased by 46%
- From 2010 to 2020, Violent Crime decreased by 29%
- From 2010 to 2020, Property Crime decreased by 51%
Violent crimes include crimes such as murders, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include crimes such as burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. Part one overall crime includes both violent and property crime.
“Our Springfield Police officers work hard everyday to make the city a safer place for our residents and visitors. Over the past year we’ve continued to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a large spike in gun violence in cities across the country. Our officers seized a city-record 275 illegally possessed firearms in 2020, and given this pattern, the Firearms Investigation Unit created this year will help us continue to address this trend,” Commissioner Clapprood said. “Additionally, our Real-Time Crime Analysis Unit (R-TAC) continues to assist us with data-driven approaches to crime prevention by proactively putting our officers in the best positions to deter crime and provide real-time support in unpredictable situations. With the support of Mayor Sarno, the strategies this department has implemented continue to help us address crime in the city and save lives.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “This is a testament to Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and her leadership team at SPD. Our brave and dedicated men and women in blue do a tremendous job in keeping our residents and business community as safe as they possibly can as we continue to balance public safety and cop accountability aspects. From addressing traffic violations and quality of life issues such as seizing illegal firearms and dirt bikes, to investigating serious violent crimes from repeat offenders, the dedicated units and divisions of our SPD have never stop working for our community even as we continue to work together to defeat this COVID-19 pandemic. Under Commissioner Clapprood’s leadership our SPD has initiated numerous initiatives and reforms to address quality of life issues and help reduce overall crime. This recent FBI Annual Uniform Crime Report further supports that our local efforts with our state, regional and federal partners is a successful working model.”
The FBI announcement can be found here. Springfield’s 2019 crime data can be found here and past crime data since 1995 can be found in the Crime in the United States publications. The 2020 crime data can be found here (download).
Uniformed Crime Reports are released annually via FBI.gov. The methodology the FBI uses for their Uniform Crime Reporting Program is different than what the Commonwealth and the City of Springfield use. The Uniform Crime Reporting Program is a summary reporting system, while the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is more detailed. The city tracks crime data through NIBRS, which are submitted to the state and FBI. 2020 is expected to be the final year the FBI tracks data in this fashion. The FBI is transitioning to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) beginning in 2021.
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