The Preliminary FBI Uniform Crime Report uses figures provided by police sources . Violent crime dropped 4 % last year , according to the FBI . Decrease is part of decade - long decline . Murders jumped more than 20 % in towns with populations under 500 .
2011 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report uses figures provided by police agencies . Violent crime dropped 4 % last year , according to the FBI . Decrease is part of decade-long decline . Murders jumped more than 18 % in towns with populations under 10,000 .