Table Of ContentC 9^
North Carolina Department of Justice
State Bureau of Investigation
CRIME IN
NORTH CAROLINA
2000
Uniform Crime Report
Roy Cooper Robin P. Pendergraft
Attorney General SBI Director
state of North Carolina
Uniform Crime Report
2000 Annual Report
Roy Cooper
Attorney General
Department of Justice
Robin P. Pendergraft
Director
State Bureau of Investigation
Introduction
Please Note
Figures used in this report are submitted voluntarily by law enforcement agencies throughout North
Carolina. Individuals using these tabulations are cautioned against drawing conclusions by making direct
comparisons between cities due to the existence of numerous factors which affect the amount and type
of crime from place to place. Some of these factors are listed in this report. More valid use can be made
of these figures by determining deviations from state averages and through comparisons with averages
for cities in similar population groups. It is important to remember that crime is a social problem and,
therefore, a concern of the entire community. The efforts of law enforcement are limited to factors within
its control.
Prepared By
State Bureau of Investigation
Division of Records and Criminal Statistics
3320 Gamer Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626
1-888-498-9429
(919) 662-4500
http://sbi.jus.state.nc.us
Issued September 2001
A special note of acknowledgment and gratitude is extended to the over 500 law enforcement agencies
throughout North Carolina whose efforts have made this data available.
This publication, printed by N.C. Correction Enterprises, Raleigh, North Carolina, is issued by the North
Carolina Department of Justice, State Bureau of Investigation. There have been 700 copies printed at an
approximate cost of $4,300, or $6.15 per copy.
Copies have been deposited with the North Carolina State Publications Clearinghouse of the Division of
State Library, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.
ii Crime in North Carolina - 2000
Introduction
Preface
I am pleased to provide you with the 28* edition of Crime in North
Carolina. This document is based upon monthly offense and arrest
reports compiled by law enforcement agencies across the state.
In 2000, the overall crime rate in North Carolina decreased 6.6%
when compared with the 1999 rate. Property crimes (burglary, larceny
and motor vehicle theft) decreased 6.3%, and the murder rate decreased
by 4%». The rate of violent crimes decreased 9.5%, fueled by a 13,1%
decrease in the aggravated assault rate. Looking at the five-year trend
(1996 vs, 2000), the rate of violent crimes has decreased 17.4% and the
murder rate has decreased 21.6%.
These numbers are important because they give us reliable information about the safety of our state. The
numbers are also encouraging. They show that we closed the decade with a nearly continuous decrease in
the crime rate, and they show that good law enforcement and tougher sentences for violent offenders are
keeping our streets safer.
But new crimes and a slowing economy could change the trend. Even with tougher sentences and longer
prison terms for violent offenders, a slow economy can change a life on the edge to a life of crime. As we
look forward to the next year and decade, we can already see that criminals are finding new ways to prey on
us.
Our State Bureau of Investigation is investigating more and more clandestine drug labs. These labs
produce harmful drugs like methamphetamine. In addition, criminals are turning to new methods to
perpetrate old crimes, using the Internet to commit theft and to exploit children. We are working to increase
our abilities in the computer forensics lab to crack these cases, especially child pornography and exploitation.
By targeting these areas we can overcome the challenges of limited resources and an uncertain economic
fiiture. That way we can keep the crime rates low, and keep our streets safe.
On behalf of all North Carolinians, I thank each of the people in our more than 490 North Carolina law
enforcement agencies for their annual assistance with this document and for their daily work in the fight
against crime.
Roy Cooper
Attorney General
Crime in North Carolina - 2000 iii
Introduction
Foreword
In 1969 the Division of Criminal Information (DCI), then called the
Police Information Network, was created to provide criminal justice
information to all North Carolina law enforcement and criminal justice
agencies. Since 1973, law enforcement agencies throughout North
Carolina have voluntarily submitted data to the DCI on specific crimes
committed in their areas of jurisdiction.
The information and statistics presented in this annual are an
assessment of those reports submitted for 2000 and represent an
overview of the statewide problems associated with those crimes. Once
this data is compiled from monthly reports submitted to the DCI, it is
furnished to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for tabulation in their
national publication called Crime in the United States.
This publication is printed with the hope that it will not only assist law enforcement administrators in
determining their priorities in the fight against crime, but that it will prove to be a vital resource to
researchers, educators and other public and private agencies involved with criminal justice in North
Carolina. We believe that the collection of crime statistics will increase awareness for all citizens and by
studying these statistics there will be a greater understanding of the problems facing law enforcement.
Hopefully this will result in constructive improvement of our criminal justice system.
Robin P. Pendergraft
SBI Director
iv Crime in North Carolina - 2000
Introduction
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Statement of Policy
For Release of Crime Reporting Data
The following policy will be observed by the State Biireau of Investigation concerning the release of
all crime data collected iinder the summary Uniform Crime Reporting and Incident Base Reporting
standards. Employees of the SBI shall not deviate from this poUcy without the express consent of
the SBI Assistant Director for Field Support or the SBI Director.
Public Access:
1. Any crime data submitted to the State Biu'eau of Investigation will be made available for pubhc
release once that data has been edified, verified for accuracy, and put in final form.
2. The SBI has the authority to charge for the release of crime data to non-criminal jvistice
contributors to recover the costs in providing the information.
3. All crime data to be released will originate from the SBI's Records and Criminal Statistics Unit
due to periodic updating.
Official Publications:
1. The SBI will publish an annual report reflecting crime in North Carolina. This report will be
distributed to the governor, members of the legislature, the attorney general, law enforcement
agencies or any agency or committee dedicated to law enforcement or criminal justice work. The
SBI and its Advisory FoHcy Board have the authority to place a charge on the annual pubhcation.
Crime in North Carolina, to recover the cost of pubhshing the document.
2. Law enforcement agencies are asked to comply with the release dates and times of official
pubUcations such as Crime in North Carolina, the Semi-Annual Report, and the Initial Annual
Report entitled Crime in North Carolina.
Law Enforcement Access:
Criminal justice agencies will have their own data and other contributors' data available to them
at all times for the pvirposes of crime prevention, crime pattern detection, or other related needs
in combating crime.
vi Crime in North Carolina - 2000
Introduction
Dedication
This publication is dedicated to all law enforcement officers, and in
particular to those who have lost their lives while upholding the laws and
serving the citizens of North Carolina.
The following officers were killed feloniously in the line of duty:
Deputy Todd Cook
Davidson County Sheriffs Office
January 27,2000
Chief Joseph Edward White, Jr.
Rich Square Police Department
July 16,2000
The following officers were killed accidentally in the line of duty:
Deputy Ernest Martin Hull
Greene County Sheriffs Office
January 2,2000
Deputy Jeffery Alan Matheny
Craven County Sheriffs Office
October 21,2000
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Crime in North Carolina - 2000 vii
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