The Uniform Crime Report from the FBI is arguably the best collation of crime data to date which is why many look at this for guidance and by using this information have managed to create a list of the top 20 most dangerous cities in the United States of America, the findings are based on the most violent crimes per 100,000 people.
Miami, Florida
Miami has a population of 407,526 and the violent crime rate stands at 1,213.5 crimes per 100,000 people.
Of these crimes there were 71 murders, 2,215 robberies and 2,563 assaults giving a total of 4,945 violent crimes.
New Haven, Connecticut
With a population of 130,338 the overall violent crime rate stands at 1,260 crimes per 100,000 residents.
Of these crimes there were 19 murders, 76 rapes, 770 robberies and 778 assaults making a total of 1,643 violent crimes.
Newark, New Jersey
New Jersey has a population of 277,357 with an overall violent crime rate of 1267.7 per 100,000 people.
Of these violent crimes there were 112 murders, 45 rapes, 2433 robberies and 926 assaults reported giving the city a total 3,516 violent crimes.
Birmingham, Alabama
The population of Birmingham in Alabama stands at 212,295 and there is an overall violent crime rate recorded at 1,33.4 crimes per 100,000 people.
These 2,852 violent crimes were made up of 63 murders, 178 rapes, 970 robberies and 1,643 assaults.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee has a current population of 596,459 and a violent crime rate that is recorded as 1,373.8 crimes per 100,000 residents.
With a total number of crimes sitting at 8,194, these are made up of 104 murders, 402 rapes, 3,283 robberies and 4,405 assaults.
Little Rock, Arkansas
The population of Little Rock in Arkansas amounts to 195,092 and the violent crime rate is reported as 1.423.4 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 2,777 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 35 murders, 119 rapes, 944 robberies and 1,679 assaults.
St Louis, Missouri
St Louis has a current population of 318,955 and a reported violent crime rate of 1,591.8 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 5,077 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 120 murders, 332 rapes, 1,458 robberies and 3,176 assaults.
Flint, Michigan
The population of Flint in Michigan stands at 101,649 and there is an overall violent crime rate recorded at 1,876.1 crimes per 100,000 people.
These 1,907 violent crimes were made up of 48 murders, 145 rapes, 447 robberies and 1,276 assaults.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit in Michigan has a current population of 706,663 and a reported violent crime rate of 2,052.5 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 14,504 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 316 murders, 618 rapes, 4,774 robberies and 8,796 assaults.
Stockton, California
Stockton in California has a population of 294,406 and the violent crime rate stands at 1,230.3 crimes per 100,000 people.
Of these crimes there were 32 murders, 91 rapes, 1,088 robberies and 2,411 assaults giving a total of 3,622 violent crimes.
Buffalo, New York
With a population of 260,568 the overall violent crime rate in Buffalo, New York stands at 1,246.9 crimes per 100,000 residents.
Of these crimes there were 47 murders, 145 rapes, 1,322 robberies and 1,735 assaults making a total of 3,249 violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has a population of 828,841 with an overall violent crime rate of 1264.3 per 100,000 people.
Of these violent crimes there were 129 murders, 656 rapes, 3,800 robberies and 5,894 assaults reported giving the city a total 10,479 violent crimes.
Atlanta, Georgia
The population of Atlanta in Georgia amounts to 432,589 and the violent crime rate is reported as 1,275.3 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 5,517 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 84 murders, 105 rapes, 2,363 robberies and 2,965 assaults.
Oakland, California
Oakland in California has a population of 397,011 and the violent crime rate stands at 2,011 crimes per 100,000 people.
Of these crimes there were 90 murders, 180 rapes, 4,922 robberies and 2,792 assaults giving a total of 7,984 violent crimes.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City in Missouri has a population of 462,378 with an overall violent crime rate of 1,268.2 per 100,000 people.
Of these violent crimes there were 99 murders, 377 rapes, 1,662 robberies and 3,726 assaults reported giving the city a total 5,864 violent crimes.
Washington, District of Columbia
The population of Washington, DC amounts to 618,777 and the violent crime rate is reported as 1,273.5 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 7,880 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 103 murders, 393 rapes, 3,660 robberies and 3,724 assaults.
Rockford, Illinois
With a population of 152,138 in Rockford, Illinois and an overall violent crime rate that stands at 1,357.3 crimes per 100,000 residents.
Of these crimes there were 19 murders, 145 rapes, 394 robberies and 1,507 assaults making a total of 2,065 violent crimes.
Baltimore, Maryland
The population of Baltimore in Maryland amounts to 621,445 and the violent crime rate is reported as 1,404 crimes per 100,000 residents.
There are a total of 8,725 violent crimes that have been recorded and these are made up of 233 murders, 298 rapes, 3,734 robberies and 4,460 assaults.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland in Ohio has a population of 394,335 with an overall violent crime rate of 1,458.4 per 100,000 people.
Of these violent crimes there were 55 murders, 417 rapes, 3,490 robberies and 1,789 assaults reported giving the city a total 5,751 violent crimes.
Memphis, Tennessee
The population of Memphis in Tennessee stands at 650,932 and there is an overall violent crime rate recorded at 1,673.6 crimes per 100,000 people.
These 10,894 violent crimes were made up of 124 murders, 437 rapes, 3,133 robberies and 7,200 assaults.
Whilst these figures may make for some astonishing reading there is no need to become too alarmed as the good news shows that recently crime has been decreasing in the United States. Statistics suggest that there has been a decrease of almost 10% in the past five years, and when you take into account the figures above these really are just an indication of what has been reported and although 5,000+ violent crimes may sound horrendous if you consider this is within a population that stands at over half a million this really isn’t as high as you may first think.
Unfortunately there are still places in the United States that have a great deal of crime, however I truly believe that this is something that would be experienced wherever you went in the world.
Why is it that people commit crime? Whether these crimes are small misdemeanors or major violent attacks, why do some people enter the criminal justice system, learn their lesson and never commit any further crimes whereas others never seem to learn becoming repeat offenders. It can be argued that environment plays a huge role, however just by looking at the cities above this is one of the factors, however just one of many.
Before you convince yourself that you cannot possibly contemplate living in a city with a high crime rate, it is worth taking a much closer look at why the crimes could have been committed, what caused them? Some people believe that a person weighs up the pros and cons and makes their own decision on whether or not to murder, rape, rob or assault another individual. Others think that it is the responsibility of the community to ensure that their citizens do not commit crime by ensuring that they have a safe and secure place in which they can live. There is also the argument that some people have certain traits that will determine how they will react to all manner of circumstances particularly if they are faced with negative conditions.
No matter where you live there will always be desperate people, and desperate people will take desperate measures which could translate to committing crime, and whilst there are many different ways of thinking it can be agreed that justice needs to prevail in all civilized societies.
