Figures for the first nine months of 1976 in the just-released Uniform Crime Report released by FBI Director Clarence M, Kelley show some gains and some losses in the fight against crime. Serious crime in the nation rose 2 per cent during the first three quarters of the year over the same period in 1975, a decrease from the previous year, said Attorney General Edward H. Levi in analyzing the figures, Violent crimes continued to decrease after a climb during the past few years. The report offers room for cautious optimism in what Mr. Levi called “a steady slowing in the percent of increase in the last nine months in the rate of violent crimes.” But, he emphasized: “We mustn’t forget that crime still remains an urgent national problem? This is true here in Utah as well as in the rest of the nation, with crime of murder, rape, aggravated assault and burglary still very much in the picture. Figures for Salt Lake City, the only Utah city listed in the major cities report of the FBI, showed a decline in major crime in the nine-month period – although there was no shortage of cases. The Salt Lake crime index total dropped from 14,571 January to September in 1975 to 13,656 this year. Murder and non-ne li ent manslaughter cases totalegig in 1975 to 8 this year. Forcible rape cases remained the same at 76. Robberies in Salt Lake dropped from 453 to 351; aggravated assault causes dipped from 306 to 274 cases; burglary cases declined from 3977 to 3493. Larceny-theft cases totaled 8664 for the nine months in 1975 compared with 8551 this year, and motor vehicle thefts dropped from 1086 to 903. Nation-wide, Mr. Levi reported, the over-all rise of 2 per cent compares with an increase of 11 per cent in the first nine months of 1975 over 1974. The latest figures for that period represent the lowest increase nationally since 1973 when reported serious criminal offenses rose only 1 per cent over 1972. in the 1976 period covered by the report, the violent crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault decreased 5 per cent. Larceny-theft was the only crime index offense to show a national increase, showing an 8 per cent climb, Naturally, the slowed growth of crime index offenses should in no way slacken efforts in the constant struggle against crime. The crime rate is still increasing – even though the percentage of gain has taken a downtum – and crime remains a costly, devastating scourge in this country. The task of controlling it extends to citizens of every state, county and community – and to every family – with law enforcement officers and courts at every level having especially important roles in the fight against crime. Sc They Soy “One reason that we have such a craving for the 1950s is that it was a time of peace. We had just finished a war. And we were able to lose ourselves in a lot of silliness. It was a welcome release from tragic times. Today is a lot like the ’50s in that a gruesome war has ended and we’re seeking diversions.” – Dick Clark, emcee for television’s “American Bandstand” program on the current nostalgia for the 1950s.