Violent crime in the US has dropped overall, but it’s still high in places like Alaska and big cities due to poverty and lack of jobs showing the importance of fixing these issues to make communities safer.
The State of Violence in America
Violence in the United States has steadily declined over the years. The rate of violent crime has decreased significantly, dropping from 685 incidents per 100,000 Americans in 1995 to 383 incidents per 100,000 currently, according to a report by 24/7 wall st.
Alaska: The Most Dangerous State
Alaska is now the most dangerous state in the country with a violent crime rate of 730 incidents per 100,000 state residents. This is much higher than the national average.
Urban Centers as Crime Hotspots
Violent crime is more common in big cities than in rural areas making it challenging to analyze state-level trends. Cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield in Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, have rates over 1,000 incidents per 100,000 people.
(photo: Daily Mail)
The Socioeconomic Factor
Poverty and lack of jobs are big reasons for local crime. States with the highest violent crime rates usually have worse social and economic conditions. For example, eight of the top 10 states have poverty rates higher than the national average of 14.7%. Seven of these states also have higher unemployment rates than the national rate of 5.3% in 2015.
Addressing the Roots of Crime
Addressing root causes of crime such as lack of opportunities through effective state policies focused on reducing repeat offenses can enhance community safety.
Alabama: A Case Study
Alabama ranks 10th for violent crime with high rates linked to economic issues: 6.1% unemployment and 18.5% poverty. Birmingham stands out with 1,746 incidents per 100,000 residents, the third highest among FBI-tracked cities.
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Furthermore, Economic problems affect crime rates in the US focusing on improving social and economic conditions can make communities safer nationwide.
