Criminal Defense Attorney Mick Mickelsen discusses the latest stats and figures when it comes to states with the highest and lowest amount of criminal activity, including information on where Texas ranks among the states.
Which States Have the Most Crime?
Thinking about moving? Before you put down new roots, it’s a good idea to check out which states have the highest rates of crime. It’s also important to keep in mind that some states may have higher crime rates, but these numbers can sometimes get skewed by certain cities that have a disproportionately high number of violent crimes.
Additionally, large states with a big population tend to have higher crime rates, as they’re usually home to several big cities, where it’s typical to see more crime than you generally find in rural areas.
Here’s what you should know when comparing the crime rates of different states.
States With the Highest Amount of Crime
According to FBI statistics, the most dangerous states in the country tend to have large populations. Texas ranked seventeenth for the highest crime rate, with Lubbock being the city with the highest concentration of crime. Texas also has the seventh highest incarceration rate, with 769 people in jail or prison for every 100,000 residents.
The states in the top 10 for highest amount of crime include South Carolina, Delaware, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Nevada, New Mexico, and Alaska.
Among the 50 states, Alaska ranks first for the highest amount of crime per 100,000 residents. There are 804 violent crimes per 100,000 people, and 409 adults in prison for every 100,000 residents.
While crime rates have dropped in most states in recent years, the opposite is true in Alaska, where the numbers of violent crimes have risen steadily over the years. Experts say there are a number of reasons for this, including high unemployment rates and higher than average rates of drug and alcohol abuse.
The state is also isolated from the rest of the country, which means residents don’t have the opportunity to travel to nearby states to look for jobs. Additionally, the cost of living is quite high in Alaska, which can make crime rates spike.
10 Safest States
According to a US News report, the safest states were ranked based on the numbers of violent crimes and property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Although many of these states have a low population, you might be surprised to see a few states with larger populations among these ranks.
10. Pennsylvania
The Keystone State ranked in tenth place for the top 10 safest states. There are 12.78 million people in Pennsylvania, which has 22 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
9. Wyoming
Wyoming is also among the safest states, which could be because it has such a low population. With just 570,000 people, it’s one of the least populated states in the country.
8. Rhode Island
Rhode Island has a population of 1.06 million and a violent crime rate of 8 per 100,000 residents.
7. Virginia
With 8.41 million residents, Virginia is heavily populated compared to its low crime rate. It sees just 4 violent crimes per 100,000 people, making it one of the safest states in the country.
6. Connecticut
Connecticut has 3.58 million residents and a violent crime rate of 5 per 100,000 people.
5. Idaho
Idaho made the top five for safest states. It has 1.68 million people and a violent crime rate of 6 per 100,000 residents.
4. New Jersey
With its proximity to New York and other states, some people are surprised to learn that New Jersey ranks among the safest states in the country.
New Jersey’s large population of 8.94 million might make it seem like it should see higher rates of property and violent crimes. However, there are just 2 property crimes per 100,000 people in New Jersey.
3. New Hampshire
New Hampshire has an extremely low property crime rate of just 1 per 100,000 residents.
2. Vermont
Vermont also enjoys a low violent and property crime rate. There are just 2 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
1. Maine
Maine is considered the safest state in the country. With a population of 1.33 million, it has 1 violent crime per 100,000 residents and 5 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Each state is different, and it’s important to keep these differences in mind when considering statistics about crime. For example, Maine has a much smaller population than a state like Texas, which is one of the biggest in the country. Additionally, Texas has far more metropolitan areas than a state like Maine, which is made up of mostly rural communities.
Overall, the good news is that crime, including violent crime, continues to decrease in most states. With exceptions like Alaska, the majority of states are safer places to live than they were even just a few years ago. If you are in a need of the Best Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Broden & Mickelsen, LLP please call us.
For more articles on criminal activity visit our Criminal Defense Blog.
Media Contact:
Dallas Best Criminal Defense Lawyers
Broden & Mickelsen, LLP
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Sources:
- https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/10-safest-states-in-america
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/most-dangerous-states-in-america/ss-AAv7rgP
- https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/crime-generally-down-not-alaska-how-should-state-lawmakers-respond
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