Violent Crimes in Lexington County Up in 2011

The number of violent crimes in Lexington County increased in 2011 over the previous year, according to data released Monday by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Violent crimes — murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults — totaled 1,107 in 2011 compared to 981 in 2010.

There were 13 murders in 2011, up from 10 in 2010. The number of rapes also increased in 2011 to 89 from 81 reported in 2010. 

In Richland County, violent crimes were down in 2011. There were 3,565 offenses reported, down from 3,823 reported in 2010. 

The number of murders also decreased. There were 25 murders in 2011 — down from 27 in 2010. 

The number of rapes, however, increased. There were 180 rapes reported in 2010. That number was higher in 2011 with 189 rapes being reported. 

South Carolina saw a 21 percent jump in murders and a 7 percent increase in rapes in 2011, bucking a downward trend of the past generation.

The other two violent crime categories tracked by state officials — aggravated assaults and robberies — fell from 2010 to 2011.

In total, violent crimes across the state fell slightly, according to the report, "Crime in South Carolina 2011," produced annually by the State Law Enforcement Division and the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

Violent crimes have been generally declining across the state and nation for the past 40 years.

But there were 322 murders in 2011, up from 265 in 2010. There were 1,666 rapes reported across the state in 2011 — up from 1,556 in 2010. Both the murder rate and rape rate (which factor in statewide population) rose by similar amounts.

Also on the rise in 2011 were the nonviolent crimes tracked by the report — burglaries, larcenies and motor-vehicle thefts.

Click on the map above to see the number of violent crimes in each South Carolina county for 2011.

For a look at previous crime data, click here.