Detroit is a city with a long history of economic, social, and cultural challenges, as well as a reputation for being one of the most violent and dangerous cities in the United States.
But how accurate is this perception, and what are the current trends and patterns of crime in Detroit?
In this article, we will provide a statistical overview of the crime rate in Detroit, Michigan, based on the latest data from the FBI and other sources.
What is the crime rate in Detroit?
The crime rate is a measure of the number of crimes reported per 100,000 population in a given area or time.
It can be used to compare the level of crime across different locations or over time.
However, it is important to note that the crime rate does not reflect the actual number of crimes that occur, as not all crimes are reported to the police, and different jurisdictions may have different definitions and classifications of crimes.
According to the most recent data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the total crime rate in Detroit for 2020 was 5,389.2 per 100,000 people.
This means that there were about 54 crimes for every 1,000 residents in Detroit in 2020.
This is 129.72% higher than the national average of 2,346 per 100,000 people, and 193.07% higher than the Michigan average of 1,838.9 per 100,000 people.
The total crime rate consists of two components: violent crime and property crime.
Violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, while property crime includes burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.
The violent crime rate in Detroit for 2020 was 2,307 per 100,000 people, which is 462% higher than the national average of 495 per 100,000 people, and 1,664% higher than the Michigan average of 131 per 100,000 people.
This means that there were about 23 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents in Detroit in 2020.
The property crime rate in Detroit for 2020 was 3,594 per 100,000 people, which is 103.94% higher than the national average of 1,762 per 100,000 people, and 106.14% higher than the Michigan average of 1,742 per 100,000 people.
This means that there were about 36 property crimes for every 1,000 residents in Detroit in 2020.
How does Detroit compare to other cities?
Detroit has one of the highest crime rates among large cities in the United States.
According to the FBI UCR data for 2020, Detroit ranked second only to Memphis, Tennessee as the most violent city with more than 100,000 population.
Detroit also ranked fourth among the cities with the highest property crime rate.
Among the cities with similar population size to Detroit (between 600,000 and 700,000), Detroit had the highest violent crime rate and the second highest property crime rate after Baltimore, Maryland.
However, it is important to note that different cities may have different reporting practices and methods of collecting and analyzing crime data.
Therefore, direct comparisons between cities may not be accurate or fair.
How has the crime rate changed over time in Detroit?
The crime rate in Detroit has fluctuated over time, reflecting various social, economic, and political factors that affect the city and its residents.
According to the FBI UCR data from 1985 to 2020, the total crime rate in Detroit reached its peak in 1991 at 10,704 per 100,000 people.
Since then, it has declined by almost half to its lowest point in 2019 at 5,275 per 100,000 people.
However, in 2020, there was a slight increase to 5,389 per 100,000 people.
The violent crime rate in Detroit also peaked in 1991 at 4,505 per 100, 000 people, and then declined by more than half to its lowest point in 2017 at 2, 057 per 100, 000 people.
However, in 2018, 2019, and 2020, there were increases to 2, 008, 2, 007, and 2, 307 per 100, 000 people, respectively.
The property crime rate in Detroit peaked in 1987 at 7, 999 per 100, 000 people, and then declined by more than half to its lowest point in 2019.
Also, read;
- Canada; Crime In London
- Venezuela: Crime In Caracas
- Bolivia; Crime In La Paz
- Tennessee: Crime In Memphis
