Last week, the Department of Justice's Bureau of Statistics released its annual report on criminal victimization. "This report presents 1999 criminal victimization levels and rates from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)." Data on victim characteristics, victim-offender relationships, use of weapons, and trends in victimization rates from 1993 to 1999 are also included. According to the report, the overall violent crime rate declined ten percent -- the largest single-year percent decrease since the Survey began in 1973. In addition, property crime fell by nine percent. However, the drop in violent crime was the result of "a significant decrease in only one category," the simple assault rate; "declines in robbery and aggravated assault rates were not significant." The report is offered in .pdf format.