Report: New Jersey Crime Rates Fall Overall, But Murders Up
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- According to new state data, murders in New Jersey are still on the rise, but crime rates fell slightly from 2012 to 2013.
The Uniform Crime Report shows criminal cases reported across New Jersey fell overall by 7 percent. Meanwhile violent crimes remained almost level, with only a 1 percent decline.
The report, issued by the state attorney general's office, also shows there were 401 murders in 2013, an increase of 4 percent over the previous year.
About one-third of the state's murders happened in Essex County, according to the report. And handguns were used in more than 70 percent of the killings.
Half of the victims were between 15 and 29 years of age, and the majority of the murder victims were black males, the report said.
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