According to a recent report by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, crime is on the rise, albeit marginally, in Lincoln County.
The total number of 2009 crimes in the county, 565, is 33 more than 2008’s 532.
Notably, the number of rapes – 17 – in the county is nearly double to 2008’s nine. There was one murder and two robberies; Lincoln County did not report any murders or robberies in 2008.
Aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft are all down, while larceny (396 in 2009, 357 in 2008) and arson (five in 2009, four in 2008) are up. The countywide clearance rate rose by over five percentage points, from 28.4 percent to 33.8 percent.
The Maine State Police administer the program. According to the website of the Dept. of Public Safety, statistics include contributions from 150 law enforcement agencies as well as prosecutors, courts, and the Dept. of Corrections.
According to the Dept. of Public Safety, “Maine’s citizens look to UCR as the primary information source on the nature and extent of crime, while criminologists, sociologists, legislators, state and local planners, the media and academicians use the statistics for wide and varied research and planning purposes.”
For more information, visit the Dept. of Public Safety website at www.maine.gov/dps.
