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 . Overall , violent crime was down 4 % , according to the Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report for 2011 . Murders jumped more than 20 % in towns with populations under 500 .
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 .