Jackson’s Tragedy and Rising Homicide Rates
Hours after graduating from Murrah High School, Kennedy Hobbs visited her boyfriend’s grave posting a photo on Instagram. Before the night ended and she became a victim in Jackson’s record 155 homicides in 2021, the highest per capita murder rate in the nation, according to the report of Mississippi Today.
Kennedy Hobbs, 18, was shot three times at a Texaco gas station. Her mother, Lashanda Jennings-Hobbs, said, “It’s terrible. Something has got to be done about it.”
Jackson Leads U.S. Cities in Homicide Rate
Jackson’s homicide rate is the highest in the U.S. for cities with at least 100,000 people. With a population of 153,701, the city’s rate was about 100 per 100,000. Chicago, with 799 homicides, had a rate of 29.6 per 100,000 due to its larger population of roughly 2.7 million.
Detroit with 640,000 people had a homicide rate of 48.28 per 100,000. Birmingham, with 132 homicides and a population of 200,733, had a rate of 65.75 per 100,000. Atlanta, with 500,000 people had a rate of 31.6 per 100,000 despite similar numbers of homicides as Jackson.
(photo: Wikipedia)
Leaders Address Violent Crime and Community Impact
“There is something wrong when Jackson has a higher murder rate than Atlanta,” said John Byrd, vice president of the Association of South Jackson Neighborhoods. Byrd noted that Jackson experiences both opportunistic and passionate crimes.
Kennedy Hobbs is buried alongside her boyfriend, Jaquan Williams, who was also killed outside a convenience store. “We continue to work behind the scenes to tackle violent crime in Jackson,” Mayor Lumumba said, noting the pandemic’s role in rising crime.
Jackson Mayor Lumumba Highlights Multifaceted Approach to Crime Amidst Officer Shortages and Court Backlogs
Lumumba cited factors like the inability to detain offenders a backed-up court system, and an influx of high-powered guns. He stressed the complexity of the issue requiring efforts from all levels of leadership and the community.
The city held a crime summit to discuss challenges and solutions. “We also continue to increase the number of officers in our police department by holding recruitment training academies and boosting pay,” Lumumba said emphasizing that policing alone isn’t enough.
Amid National Rise in Homicides, Jackson Faces Officer Shortages and Resource Allocation Challenges
Nationwide, homicides have increased since the pandemic but some cities like Boston and St. Louis saw declines. Former Jackson Police Chief Robert Johnson argued that poverty and unemployment alone can’t explain the surge in violence stressing better resource allocation.
Current Jackson Police Chief James Davis noted a consistent shortfall of about 70 officers, despite a budget for 400. Other cities like Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and Birmingham also face officer shortages affecting their ability to combat crime.
Byrd Calls for Increased Police Manpower and Community Involvement to Address Crime Shortages
Byrd, a former data analyst for Johnson, pointed to a shortage of officers and court personnel as key issues. He emphasized the need for increased police manpower and community involvement to address repeat offenders.
Johnson recommended analyzing each homicide for interconnections to prevent further cases. He suggested adding part-time officers from other areas and a reserve unit of citizens to strengthen the police force.
Byrd Stresses Law Enforcement Collaboration and Community Engagement to Tackle Crime in Jackson
Byrd stressed teamwork with law enforcement and community involvement, focusing on the broken window theory to prevent escalating crime.
Jackson aims for community unity to address violence causes and ensure safety for all residents.
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