The Arkansas Crime Information Center began collecting monthly Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data in 1974; law enforcement agencies report the number of offenses that became known to them on a monthly basis, as well as the number of adult and juvenile arrests, using a summary reporting procedure.
To supplement offense information, data are also collected on the value of property stolen and recovered, circumstances surrounding homicides, assaults on police officers, and demographic characteristics of offenders. The Crime Index, used as a basic measurement of crime, includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Crime statistics for 1993 show that 116,689 serious crimes were reported, with a 29 percent clearance rate. The crime rate was established at 4,870 serious crimes for every 100,000 inhabitants. Of 177,513 arrests made in 1993, 10 percent involved persons under 18 years of age. The value of stolen property amounted to $93,982,942; the value of recovered property was estimated at $39,718,780, with a recovery rate of 42 percent. Firearms were used in 72 percent of all murder and nonnegligent manslaughter cases and 48 percent of all robberies. The 1,026 reported rapes in 1993 represented an increase of 4 percent over 1992. Of 10,008 aggravated assaults reported, 32 percent were committed by the use of hands, fists, or feet and 31 percent involved firearms. Residential burglaries accounted for 71 percent of all burglaries reported, 7,784 motor vehicle thefts were documented, and 399 assaults on police officers were reported. Tables and figures