WASHINGTON – Child abuse and other forms of violence involving families fell by more than half between 1993 and 2002, in line with the decline in crime overall, the government said yesterday. The rate of family violence fell from about 5.4 victims to 2.1 victims for every 1,000 residents age 12 and older, according to a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Simple assault was the most frequent type of violent offense. Murder accounted for less than 0.5% of all family violence between 1998 and 2002 – the most recent years analyzed for the report.

The report looked back to 1993 – the year the survey was redesigned – for a long-term trend in family violence, but analyzed the most recent years to glean detailed information on patterns of crime.

Almost half of the 3.5 million victims of family violence between 1998 and 2002 were spouses. Fewer than one in 100 died as a result.

The study by the Justice Department agency found the following:

* 73% of victims were female.

* 75% of offenders were male.

* Most of all family violence happened in or near the victim’s home.

* 74% of victims were white.

* Most victims were between 25

and 54 years old.

* 79% of offenders were white; most

were at least 30.

The president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Esta Soler, said the report “offers a ray of hope that our nation is finally on the right track in addressing the violence that devastates so many families in this country.

“But our work is not nearly done. Domestic, dating, and family violence are still taking a terrible toll,” she said.

Added Beverly Balos, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who is an expert in domestic-violence issues: “We should be celebrating the overall decline in domestic violence in terms of thinking about services that have been possible over the last 10 years in individual states. It’s made a difference in keeping women and children safe.”

Violent crimes are rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicides including murder and manslaughter. Family violence includes all types of violent crime committed by someone related to the victim. Ms. Balos noted the drop in family violence is part of an overall decrease in violent crime in past years.

According to the most recent Justice Department report on violent crimes, the violent crime rate remained at the lowest level recorded since 1973.