Crime Information

• OREGON CRIME RATES

• PROBATION RATES

• LOTTERY GROWTH

OREGON CRIME RATES

These statistics are drawn from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, except where otherwise noted.

In 1995, when Measure 11 went into effect, Oregon’s violent crime rate per 100,000 population was 522.4. The only years between 1960 and 1995 when the Oregon rate was higher than 522.4 were 1979, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988.

Upon implementation of Measure 11’s mandatory minimum prison sentences for violent crime, violent crime in Oregon went down dramatically:

The 2005 violent crime rate of 286.8 crimes per 100,000 population is the lowest rate in Oregon in 35 years (since 1970).

The reduction of Oregon violent crime, in the 10 years after Measure 11 went into effect, was 45%. This was the largest reduction in violent crime of all 50 states during those 10 years.

During the same timeframe, the property crime rate in Oregon, which is based on burglary, larceny-theft, and vehicle theft, showed some improvement. This included spillover effects of Measure 11 (some violent criminals also commit property crimes). The Oregon property crime rates per 100,000 population were:

The 2005 rate is 27% lower than the 1995 rate. This is good news but not nearly as good as the 45% reduction in the violent crime rate during the same timeframe.

While progress has been made, Oregon’s property crime rate has compared unfavorably to the other 49 states. In 2003 and 2004, Oregon had the third worst property crime rate of all 50 states. In 2005, Oregon had the fourth worst property crime rate. Recent reports indicate that this improved substantially in 2006, when Oregon had the 18th worst property crime rate of the 50 states - but that is still a very disturbing ranking.

Drug crime is not covered in the “violent crime” or “property crime” categories. Here are the sobering figures as to reported drug crime in Oregon from 2000 to 2005 (taken from Oregon Annual Uniform Crime Reports):

Allowing for the fact that these are total crime figures, not rates per 100,000 population, and our population has continued to grow, the sheer volume is alarming. After all, drug crime is, along with prostitution, poorly reported.

As to motor vehicle theft, the volume of actual reported crimes in Oregon in recent years is very disturbing (based on Oregon Annual Uniform Crime Reports):

Event when indexed per 100,000 population, per FBI national reports, Oregon’s vehicle theft rate is disturbing:

In reviewing these figures, remember that Oregon does not separately track two critical crimes: mail theft and identity theft. These crimes are submerged within property crime figures but are, sadly, deeply personal. They can have a tremendously damaging effect.

Federal Trade Commission reports for 2006 indicate that Oregon’s Identity Theft rate per 100,000 population was 76, which is the 14th worst of the 50 states.

Our goal should be to improve Oregon’s public safety system, on a holistic basis, so that Oregon consistently ranks among the best five states in all crime categories.

BACK TO TOP

Actual PROBATION rates for these crimes (2007 figures). These numbers are from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.

This is a BLEND of first-time convictions and REPEAT offenders. The probation rate for first convictions is nearly 100%!

BACK TO TOP

How Much Has The Lottery Grown?

Here are the statistics for the growth in lottery profits.

Since 2001, the lottery has grown an average of 23.25% each biennium. If you include the initial drop in lottery revenues in 1999-2001, the lottery still has grown an average of 17.6% each biennium. (Source: Oregon Lottery, September 2007)

*Projected 2007-2009 transfers based on September 2007 economic forecast issued by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.