As of 2023, Crime is a reality of modern society, the United States of America is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world due to its high crime rates. The country has a vast network of cities, and while some of them are known for their safe and peaceful environment, others are considered to be extremely dangerous. We will discuss the most dangerous cities in the US based on crime rate, violent crime rate, property crime rate, and other factors.
The safety of a city is one of the essential factors people consider when choosing a place to live, work, or visit. Unfortunately, some cities have a high crime rate, making them more dangerous than others.
The United States is a large and diverse country with more than 19,000 cities and towns. The US has been struggling with high crime rates for a long time now including homicide, robbery, assault, and theft. While the country as a whole has seen a decline in the highest crime rate cities in US in recent years, some cities still have alarmingly high crime rates. These cities have become notorious for their high crime rates and have been deemed the most dangerous cities in the US.
What is the Crime Rate?
Before diving into the details, let’s first define what is meant by “crime rate.” Crime rate is defined as the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people. It is a commonly used metric to measure the safety of a city. The higher the crime rate, the less safe the city is considered to be.
What is the Uniform Crime Reporting Program?
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program is a nationwide program that collects data on crime rates in the United States. The FBI has been collecting and analyzing data from the UCR program since 1930. The data collected includes information on violent crime rates, property crime rates, and other criminal offenses. The violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported violent crimes by the population of the city.
The violent crime rate is a useful indicator of a city’s safety because it includes crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crime, on the other hand, includes crimes such as theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities In America
List of the Highest Crime Rate Cities in US, the detail of average per 100,000 people violent crime rate and property crime rate. The city has struggled with high levels of poverty, drug abuse, and gang activity for decades, which has contributed to its high crime rates.
1. St. Louis, Missouri
| Violent Crime Rate | 2,082 |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,447 |
2. Detroit, Michigan
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,965 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,494 |
3. Baltimore, Maryland
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,833 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,025 |
4. Memphis, Tennessee
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,740 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,717 |
5. Kansas City, Missouri
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,605 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,643 |
6. Cleveland, Ohio
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,334 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,957 |
7. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,313 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,170 |
8. Little Rock, Arkansas
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,274 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,281 |
9. Oakland, California
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,264 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,460 |
10. Stockton, California
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,207 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,908 |
11. Birmingham, Alabama
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,203 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,063 |
12. Shreveport, Louisiana
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,172 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,383 |
13. Springfield, Missouri
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,166 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,031 |
14. Anchorage, Alaska
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,157 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,145 |
15. Indianapolis, Indiana
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,146 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,975 |
16. Bessemer, Alabama
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,141 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,561 |
17. San Bernardino, California
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,103 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,074 |
18. Monroe, Louisiana
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,100 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,644 |
19. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,092 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,512 |
20. Saginaw, Michigan
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,081 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,806 |
Contributing Factors to High Crime Rates
Several factors can contribute to the highest crime rate cities in US. Some of these factors include poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, and gang activity. A lack of educational and job opportunities can also contribute to high crime rates.
Additionally, some cities have a history of systemic racism and police brutality, which can lead to a breakdown of trust between the community and law enforcement. This can result in a lack of cooperation and communication between residents and police, making it harder to prevent and solve crimes.
What Can Be Done to Improve Safety?
Improving safety in these cities is not an easy task, and it requires a multifaceted approach. Some of the steps that can be taken include:
- Providing educational and job opportunities to residents to reduce poverty and unemployment rates.
- Implementing community policing programs to build trust between residents and law enforcement.
- Addressing drug addiction and gang activity through prevention and rehabilitation programs.
- Increasing the number of police officers and improving their training to better prevent and solve crimes.
It is crucial to address the underlying issues that contribute to the highest crime rate in cities in US to achieve lasting improvements in safety.
How to Stay Safe in High-Crime Cities
If you live in or are planning to visit one of the most dangerous cities in the US, it’s important to take steps to stay safe. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Stay in Well-Lit Areas: When walking around in a high-crime city, it’s best to stick to well-lit areas. Avoid dark alleyways or other areas where you may be vulnerable.
- Stay Alert: It’s important to stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid using headphones or being distracted by your phone while walking around.
- Travel in Groups: When possible, travel in groups. There is safety in numbers, and criminals are less likely to target a group of people than an individual.
- Know Your Route: Before heading out, make sure you know your route and have a map handy. This will help you avoid getting lost and ending up in dangerous areas.
- Use Trusted Transportation: If you need to get around in a high-crime city, it’s best to use trusted transportation such as a taxi or ride-sharing service.
Conclusion
To understand the crime rates of the most dangerous cities in the US, we need to consider a variety of factors that can contribute to criminal activities. These include poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, gang activity, and inadequate law enforcement. It’s also important to note that crime rates can vary significantly from one city to another, even within the same state or region. Some cities may have a high overall crime rate but low rates of specific types of crime, while others may be more dangerous for certain demographics or neighborhoods.