SC Murder up 21%

According to a comprehensive statewide report by state law enforcement, there was a decrease in violent crime in the year 2011; however, there has been a 21% increase in murders. The SC Law Enforcement Division’s Crime in SC 2011 report is compiled with the help of city, county and state law enforcement agencies.  In 2010, South Carolina had the lowest murder rate since the state began keeping statistics in 1975. The study also shows that South Carolina’s violent crime rate has exceeded the national violent crime rate every year since 1975.  There were 5,151 aggravated assaults in 2011 involving victims who had an intimate relationship with the offender.  Of those aggravated assaults, the highest percentage occurred in girlfriend and boyfriend relationships, the lowest was in same-sex couples.