Jefferson Murder Rate Sees Decline

The Advocate reports the sheriff's office released crimes statistics Tuesday that show a nearly 40 percent decrease in homicides in unincorporated Jefferson Parish so far in 2012 compared with 2011. By September 2011, there had been 43 homicides reported, but through this September the Sheriff's Office had only investigated 26 killings.

Overall crime in unincorporated Jefferson Parish is down by slightly less than 2 percent, with 10,764 crimes reported so far in 2012 compared with 10,948 through the same point in 2011.

Authorities are reporting decreases in robberies, assaults, burglaries and auto thefts and increases in rapes and thefts.