MEDIA RELEASE

MEMPHIS SHELBY CRIME

COMMISSION
600 Jefferson Ave. Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38105
901.527.2600 Fax 901.527.5300
www.memphiscrime.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2016

CONTACT: Linda Russell

EMAIL: lrussell@memphiscrime.org
OFFICE: 901-385-4230
MEDIA RELEASE

YEAR-TO-DATE CRIME RATES RELEASED THROUGH AUGUST 2016

MEMPHIS, TN the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission released today the countywide and
city of Memphis crime statistics from January 1 August 31, 2016, based on preliminary
data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
The major violent crime rate (offenses per 100,000 population) both countywide and in
the city of Memphis remained slightly up compared to the first eight months of last year.
(Major violent crimes include murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults.)
Compared to the first eight months of 2015, the major violent crime rate was up 4.6 percent
countywide and up 2.3 percent in the city of Memphis. An increase in the robbery rate
accounted for most of the increase.
Compared to the same eight-month period in 2006, which is the baseline year for
Operation: Safe Community, the reported major violent crime rate was down 16.3 percent
countywide and 13.7 percent in Memphis.
While the reported murder rate continued to be above last year, the percentage increase
continued to go down compared to earlier in the year. Countywide the murder rate was
37.3 percent above the same period in 2015. The City of Memphis murder rate was 29.3
percent above the same period in 2015. Through August 2016 compared to the same
period in 2006, the murder rate was 2.5 percent higher countywide and 2.1 percent higher
in the city of Memphis.
The major property crime rate continued to decline. Countywide, the rate of major property
crimes (burglaries, auto thefts, and other felony theft offenses) dropped 4.1 percent in 2016
compared
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to 2015 and 37.8 percent compared to 2006. In Memphis, the decline in 2016 compared to 2015
was 2.9 percent and 35.3 percent compared to 2006.
Overall, violent crime continues to be our major challenge, which is why it will be the major
focal point in the new Operation: Safety Community Plan to be announced later this year," said
Amy Weirich, Shelby County District Attorney and chair of Operation: Safe Community.

###
About the Crime Statistics. The Operation: Safe Community monthly crime trends report uses
data reported by local enforcement agencies to TIBRS. TIBRS is the Tennessee Incident Based
Reporting System, which was developed and is maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation. An incident is defined in TIBRS as one or more offenses committed by the same
offender, or group of offenders acting in concert, at the same time and place. The domestic
violence reported offenses however, uniquely refer to a victim count versus an incident count. It
is important to note that murders reported through the TIBRS system are governed by specific
criteria and therefore reflect a different number than those reported out to the public directly
from local law enforcement. This disparity is due to several factors, among them the different
status of fetuses (TIBRS does not include), the status of active cases, and when a death is ruled a
murder which occurs in a different month or year from the time of death. All state and local law
enforcement agencies must report crime data to TIBRS on a monthly basis. The crime categories
used in the report are designed to parallel the categories used by the FBI in its annual UCR report.
Elisabeth Henderson, Principal of Data Analysis & Research Consulting, produces the report for
the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. All rates are calculated based on per 100,000 population.
About Operation: Safe Community (memphisfastforward.com/public safety) Launched in
2006, Operation: Safe Community (OSC), spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission,
is a historic crime reduction initiative involving an organized network of more than 100 partner
organizations. It is the public safety pillar of Memphis Fast Forward, a shared vision and
unprecedented action plan for improving economic prosperity and quality of life in Memphis and
Shelby County. Operation: Safe Community is chaired by Shelby County District Attorney General
Amy Weirich.
About the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission (www.memphiscrime.org)

Memphis Shelby Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization

that quarterbacks the work of the Operation: Safe Community (OSC) plan and its
partners. It is governed by a board comprised of 50 public and private sector leaders,
most of whom are actively involved in leading various initiatives of the OSC plan. It is
funded through the generous contributions of many private sector donors who want to
see our community continue its crime reduction progress. Ben Adams, CEO of Baker
Donelson law firm, serves as chairman of the board, and Bill Gibbons serves as president
of the Commission.
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30.0%

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME RATE FOR

SHELBY COUNTY - MONTH TO MONTH COMPARISON THROUGH
AUGUST (Offenses per 100,000)
2016 Compared to 2015*
24.5%

25.0%
20.0%

18.3%

18.4%

15.0%
10.8%
10.0%

9.1%
4.7%

5.0%

4.6%
3.0%

0.0%
JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME RATE FOR SHELBY COUNTY

YTD COMPARISONS THROUGH AUGUST (Offenses per 100,000)
A 16.3% Decrease in 2016 Compared to 2006*
1,150.0

1,093.9

1,050.0

950.0

916.1

924.8

909.7

875.6

850.0

841.7

819.9
750.0
2006

2011

2012

2013

*Source: TBI TIBERS System

2014

2015

2016

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PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME RATE
FOR THE CITY OF MEMPHIS
MONTH TO MONTH COMPARISON THROUGH AUGUST
(Offenses per 100,000)*
2015 Compared to 2016
30.0%
22.8%

25.0%
20.0%

16.8%

16.7%

15.0%
9.2%

10.0%

7.5%
3.0%

5.0%

2.3%
1.3%

0.0%
JAN

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME RATE FOR CITY OF MEMPHIS

YTD COMPARISONS THROUGH AUGUST
(Offenses per 100,000)*
A 13.7% Decrease in 2016 Compared to 2006*

1500.00
1400.00

FEB

1385.90

1300.00
1,226.2

1,194.6

1,168.5

1200.00

1,195.5

1,117.7

1,086.9
1100.00
1000.00
2006

2011

2012

2013

*Source: TBI TIBERS System

2014

2015

2016