RICHMOND – Virginia’s official and only comprehensive report on local and statewide crime figures for 2021, titled Crime in Virginia, is now available online at the Virginia State Police website on the VSP CJIS Data Analysis & Reporting Team page. Crime in Virginia continues to provide precise rates and occurrences of crimes committed in towns, cities and counties across the Commonwealth. The report breaks down criminal offenses and arrests by reporting agency.

Violent crime includes the offenses of murder, forcible sex offenses (rape, sodomy and sexual assault with an object per the FBI’s updated rape definition), robbery and aggravated assault. Overall, the violent crime rate increased in 2021 to 194.4 (per 100,000 population) from 183.0 in 2020.  There were 16,823 violent crime offenses reported in 2021 compared to 15,713 violent crime offenses reported in 2020, representing a 7.1% increase.

The following 2021 crime figures in Virginia are presented in the report:

The report employs an Incident Based Reporting (IBR) method for calculating offenses, thus allowing for greater accuracy. IBR divides crimes into two categories: Group A for serious offenses including violent crimes (murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault), property crimes and drug offenses, and Group B for what are considered less serious offenses such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, and liquor law violations where an arrest has occurred.

Per state mandate, the Department of Virginia State Police serves as the primary collector of crime data from participating Virginia state and local police departments and sheriff’s offices. The data are collected by the Virginia State Police Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division via a secured internet system. This information is then compiled into Crime in Virginia, an annual report for use by law enforcement, elected officials, media and the general public. These data become the official crime statistics for the Commonwealth and are sent to the FBI for incorporation into their annual report, Crime in the United States.

VSU food researcher Dr. Yixiang Xu awarded $274,500 NIFA-AFRI Grant to explore a new way to process hemp protein as a food source

ETTRICK, Va.— Hemp protein is highly nutritious and digestible with 20 amino acids and up to 98 percent digestibility, which enables the body to use these building blocks to repair and maintain cells more effectively. It has nine essential fatty acids, which are diet dependent. The body cannot make them, despite their importance in physiological processes. Not only are they important in cell maintenance, and cardiovascular health, but also in regulating metabolic and inflammatory processes, as well as brain development and function.

With few exceptions, hemp protein supplies significantly more amino acids than soy and dairy proteins. Yet, to date, hemp has not responded well to processing methods for its production as a food source. Researchers hope to solve that problem with a new processing method called high-pressure processing (HPP).

To explore the effects of HPP on hemp protein for use in plant-based food, Dr. Yixiang Xu, a food scientist at Virginia State University’s Agricultural Research Station, was awarded a $274,500 grant by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (NIFA-AFRI). Together with Dr. GuiBing Chen, a food engineer at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Xu will investigate how HPP affects the taste, nutrition and other key qualities of hemp protein.

With increasing demand for plant-based proteins, this research could prove invaluable with broad benefits for hemp growers, manufacturers, and other industries, and for consumers. The grant will support the project through 2023 and will provide students with research-based learning opportunities, as well.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.