Crime in Maine declined again in 2019, while rape reports increased
Crime trended downward for an eighth straight year, but the number of violent incidents increased, according to statistics released Monday.
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Overall crime in Maine fell for the eighth straight year in 2019, but reports of some violent crimes – including rapes – increased, the state said Monday.
Overall, 18,468 crimes were reported by local police in 2019, down about 6 percent from 2018. That means there were about 14 crimes reported for every 1,000 residents. Nationally, that figure is closer to 25 per 1,000 residents, making Maine among the safest states.
Reported rapes climbed 15 percent in 2019, continuing an upward trend that began in 2014. That rise is attributed, at least in part, to increased reporting by victims, although advocates caution that many rapes still go unreported.