Assaults drive first increase in U.S. violent crime rate since 1993 . The number of aggravated assaults increased by more than 50 percent from 1994 to 2008, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Justice Department and FBI -- an unprecedented rise that has fueled fears about rising crime. Crime rates had been dropping steadily for nearly two decades . An estimated 1.8 million such incidents occurred last year , but the increase from the previous year was calculated to be statistically insignificant . Latest increase up slightly over record low of 2010 .
Assaults drive first increase in U.S. violent crime rate since 1993 . The number of aggravated assaults increased by more than 50 percent from 1994 to 2008, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Justice Department and FBI -- an unprecedented rise that has fueled fears about rising crime. Crime rates had been dropping steadily for nearly two decades . Latest increase up slightly over record low of 2010 .