Tennessee crime dropped in 2021

Major crimes in Tennessee dipped slightly in 2021, according to a new statewide report.

Driving the news: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's annual crime analysis found 502,706 serious crimes — such as murder, arson and theft — were reported last year, down about 1% from 2020.

Yes, but: While overall crime fell, some metrics in the report ticked up.

• DUI arrests climbed about 3% to nearly 18,760, although that figure remains below pre-pandemic levels.
• Meth offenses rose by about 20% to 19,726, higher than the previous two years.

Between the lines: The TBI tracks crime using a large database that allows law enforcement to analyze specific details such as the time of day when more serious crimes take place (3-5:59pm in 2021).