(AP) - New Jersey authorities say overall crimes increased while violent crimes dropped across the state in 2008.

The Uniform Crime Report shows there were 26 crime victims forevery 1,000 residents last year, up from 25 per 1,000 in 2007.

Meanwhile, the number of violent crimes decreased by 1 percent.While the decline is small, it means the number of incidents havenow decreased seven years in a row.

The report also shows there were 276 murders last year - 1percent under the year before. That pushes slayings to the lowestlevel since 2002. And officials say the number of murders in thefirst half of this year was down again.

Gov. Jon Corzine says a state plan to combat violent crimes ispartly responsible for the lower violent crime numbers.