It's a mixed blessing when it comes to the latest crime statistics.

For the eighth year in a row, crime is down across the nation. Murder is at a 33 year low.

But how good is this news in Utah?

News Specialist Richard Piatt explains what the latest FBI numbers mean to us.

When any of us hear crime is down, there is a tendency to feel good about things.

But even people who are experts on crime will tell you not to get too comfortable. Because, they say, what goes down comes back up.

The FBI numbers show the overall violent crime rate is at a 21 year low nationwide. The murder rate is at a 33 year low.

Politicians are eager to take credit for crime-fighting programs.

But criminologists say--for public safety's sake--that people still need to be on guard as much as ever.

Paul Rasmussen/Criminologist, Westminster College: "I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE PUBLIC PUT AT EASE TO THE CRIME PROBLEM."

That's especially true when you consider Utah's statistics.

Numbers from The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification show murders in this state dropped between 1998 and 1999, but rose 21 percent in the first half of this year.

Robbery was up more than 18 percent in the first half of 2000, and forcible rape is up 3 percent.

The Bureau does report a continued drop in aggravated assaults; decreasing 3 percent in the first six months of this year.

Criminologist Paul Rasmussen suggests the difference is that Utah has a higher percentage of young people 14-21, the age group most at risk for committing crime.

He predicts crime rates will start to climb, even as people are lulled into a sense of security over the FBI numbers.