Crime Data Visualizations | Mary Lia Reiter

This is an ongoing collection of crime data charts and graphs built for use in criminology and sociology courses. Data sources include the FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), and CDC. Interactive Tableau visualizations can be viewed full-screen using the icon in each embed. All materials are freely available for educational use with attribution.

Click any image to view it full size. Interactive charts link to standalone pages.

Interactive Charts

These standalone interactive charts were built from primary data and include tooltips, filtering, and dynamic views. Opening in the same tab allows full functionality.

Columbus Homicide Data

Interactive chart tracking Columbus, Ohio homicide counts, rates, and population trends over time. Built from primary municipal data.

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National Homicide Trends

Interactive visualization of national homicide rate trends drawn from FBI UCR data, with long-run historical perspective.

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Homicide

The overall U.S. homicide rate has fluctuated significantly over the past 50 years, but is currently much lower than its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. Source: FBI UCR.

U.S. Homicide Rate (Tableau)

National homicide rate trends, interactive Tableau visualization.

Source: FBI UCR

Age and Crime

Violent Crime

Violent crime rates in the U.S. have generally declined since the early 1990s. Sources: FBI UCR, NCVS.

FBI Violent Crime Rates, 1996–2023 (Tableau)

Interactive Tableau visualization of U.S. violent crime rates over time.

Source: FBI UCR

Rape Rates (Tableau)

Based on FBI UCR data, 1960–2020. Note: In 2013 the UCR changed the definition of rape — see chart notes for details.

Source: FBI UCR

UCR vs. NCVS Violent Crime

Robbery Rates

Male and Female Arrest Rates

Violent Crime Victimization by Sex

Map of World Murder Rates

Property Crime

Property crime rates in the U.S. have been falling for nearly 25 years. Sources: FBI UCR, NCVS.

U.S. Property Crime Rates

Property Crime Rates — UCR Data

Property Victimization — NCVS Data

Victimization

In general, victims match the demographics of offenders. Crime victims tend to be young and poor; victimization rates for men and women are nearly equal; minorities are over-represented as victims. Source: NCVS.

Violent Victimization Demographics (Tableau)

NCVS data, 2019. Interactive breakdown by age, sex, race, and income.

Source: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Violent Victimization Demographics (NCVS Data), 2019

Difference between Violent Crime FBI and NCVS

Comparing FBI and NCVS violent crime data

Difference between Rape Rates FBI and NCVS

Comparing FBI and NCVS rape rates

Columbus, Ohio

Crime in Columbus, like most U.S. cities, is down overall. There was a sharp increase in homicide and a slight increase in violent crime in 2020. The homicide rate for the city and MSA has decreased slightly over the long run despite population growth.

Columbus Violent Crime Rate

Columbus Property Crime Rate

Incarceration

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Rates vary substantially by state, sex, and race. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

U.S. Imprisonment Rate, 1978–2016

Imprisonment Rate by State

Sentenced Prisoners by Race

Sentenced Prisoners — State Prisons

Sentenced Prisoners — Federal Prisons

Women Entering Federal Prisons Per Year

Education & Economic Context

The cost of a college degree has increased at a much faster pace than wages. Students today are much more likely to need to take out a student loan in order to pay for their degree. Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, College Board.

Cost of Education vs. Students’ Ability to Pay

Suicide Rates Over Time

U.S. Suicide Rates — CDC Data

Permissions

If you want to use any of these charts, please attribute and include a link to this site.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.