ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration says homicides, violent crime and property crime have dropped to the lowest levels since 1975 in Maryland.
O'Malley released year-end crime data on Wednesday for 2011. The Maryland State Police compile the data, which is submitted each year to the FBI.
O'Malley, a Democrat, says the total number of crimes has dropped 4.6 percent, compared to 2010. The governor says it's the lowest total crime rate reported in Maryland since the Uniform Crime Reporting program was adopted in 1975.
There were 398 homicides reported in the state in 2011, down 6.6 percent compared to 2010. The administration also says incidents of rape dropped by 2.6 percent, and robberies fell by 6.5 percent. Aggravated assaults are down by 10.8 percent.
