(AP) - New Jersey's overall crime rate in 2015 decreased by 5 percent compared to 2014, but there was a sharp rise in reported sex crimes.

The Law and Public Safety Department on Friday released the state's Uniform Crime Report.

Various reported sex crimes, categorized in the report as rape, increased by 43 percent, from 950 to 1,362 incidents. But the state says that's because the FBI changed reporting criteria which resulted in more comprehensive reporting.

Murders increased from 354 to 369 and violent crimes reported decreased from 23,004 to 22,899.

Attorney General Christopher Porrino says while the overall crime rate is down, there is still room for improvement.