Fig.1-1-1-5 shows the clearance rates for penal code offenses over the last30years.

Fig.1-1-1-5  Clearance rates for penal code offenses(1975-2004)

  The clearance rate has been on the decline in recent years,as a sharp increase in the number of cases reported for penal code offenses overwhelmed the capacity of clearance.In2001,it was38.8%for penal code offenses and19.8%for non-traffic penal code offenses,both of which were the lowest in the post WWII period.However,it has increased somewhat since2002,to44.7%(up by3.4points from the previous year)for penal code offenses and26.1%(up by2.8points(id.))for non-traffic penal code offenses in2004.This recovery was caused by that of the clearance rate for larceny,which accounted for almost60%of reported penal code cases.