A Prince William County official is attributing a decline in certain types of crime in 2007 to the county's crackdown on illegal immigrants

A new study says homicides declined by 44% from 2006 to 2007. The incidence of rape fell 33%, robberies declined 23%, and aggravated assaults declined 18%. County board Chairman Corey Stewart says the decrease is due to the resolutions cracking down on illegal immigrants in the county. The county first started discussing the issue last summer, though no policy changes went into effect until 2008.