Violent crime in Maryland -- murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault -- dropped 14 percent during the first quarter of the year compared with last year, even as state officials planned for far-reaching anti-crime efforts to be unveiled next week.
The figures, compiled quarterly by the Maryland State Police and based on reports from local police jurisdictions, also showed a 6 percent decline in overall crime statewide in January through March, compared with the same quarter last year.
Those figures mirror a trend in a number of Baltimore area jurisdictions, where crime also has dropped in recent months.
In Baltimore County, violent crime dipped 15 percent in the first quarter compared with last year, and it dropped nearly 20 percent in the city in that period.
"These are good numbers, but we won't be happy until they go much, much lower," said Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. On Tuesday, she and Gov. Parris N. Glendening will announce federal grants designed to provide long-term solutions to crime in particular neighborhoods.
Townsend and state police Superintendent David B. Mitchell said the state and local communities need to continue grass-roots anti-crime efforts, such as the federally funded "hot spots" grants to be announced next week.
"The law enforcement community in Maryland is doing more outreach into the community, and the community should really be credited for getting involved," said Mitchell.
In the first three months of the year, according to state police, the biggest declines in crime occurred in the areas of robbery, rape, assault and car theft.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Region, which includes Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford and Howard counties, experienced the biggest drop -- 8.2 percent during the first quarter of this year compared with last year.
The Washington Metropolitan Region -- Prince George's and Montgomery counties -- also experienced an overall 4.5 percent drop in crime, including a 10 percent drop in violent crime.
Crime in the Eastern Shore Region dropped 1.7 percent, and in the Southern Maryland Region, overall crime fell 0.3 percent.
Crime in Maryland
2&
Jan-Mar '96, Jan-Mar '97, Change
Murder, 127, 126, -1%
Rape, 442, 384, -13%
Robbery, 5,284, 4,346, -18%
Assault, 5,840, 5,241, -10%
Breaking and entering, 11,385, 10,897, -4%
Larceny-theft, 39,609, 38,743, -2%
Vehicle theft, 9,438, 8,222, -13%
Pub Date: 6/27/97
