New Haven fourth most dangerous city in U.S., according to preliminary FBI data
New Haven fourth most dangerous city in U.S., according to preliminary FBI data
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Preliminary Federal Bureau of Investigation crime statistics released this week show that New Haven is the fourth most dangerous city in the United States.
The Elm City follows Flint, Mich., Detroit, Mich. and St. Louis, Mo. as the U.S. city with the largest violent crime to population ratio according to the FBI’s 2010 data. This list, which compiles crime statistics from all locations with more than of 100,000 or more people, reported an overall 5.5 percent decrease in violent crime between 2009 and 2010.
Keeping with this national trend, New Haven itself reported a violent crime reduction from 2,195 incidents in 2009 to 1,978 incidents last year. This positive change, however, was not enough to keep the city from having the eighth highest rate of robbery and the fourth highest rate of assault in the U.S. according to the FBI data.
New Haven did not even crack the top ten most dangerous cities in last year’s FBI rankings: it ranked 18th in violent crime behind Buffalo and ahead of Hartford.
The FBI’s city rankings are still in the preliminary stages as some of the crime data needs to be audited further.
Although several news agencies have already run with the story of America’s newest crime rankings, the FBI cautions against such orderings based on its statistics on its official website:
Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents. Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.
New Haven data can be found here.
The FBI’s preliminary 2010 report.
Comments
rhedbobbin 1 year ago
Don't worry, parents! New Haven's crime is largely committed by poor black people upon poor black people. Yale (and most of downtown) are sealed off enough that the most we privileged, diverse few are likely to get is a mugging here and there. Unless you are a woman. In that case, there are plenty of predators on the inside.... At least they finally plugged the DKE.
Saybrook10 1 year ago
This is irresponsible editing and reporting. This article’s headline pronounces that New Haven is the fourth most dangerous city in the country according to FBI data, yet the article itself states that the FBI urges entities not to make claims about such rankings, at the very least not without independent, informed analysis of the statistics and local context. This short piece does not appear to be based on any such complex analysis, thus perpetuating the very thought processes about crime against which the FBI cautions. Following the FBI statement, this claim of ranking is not only overly simplistic, it is inaccurate, as the agency writes that “valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis…” As Yale students and New Haven residents, the editors of the YDN should be expected to think critically and not provide such cavalier representations of their community.
alum 1 year ago
oh please New Haven is not that bad. drunk Q-pac girls darting across the street through traffic are more of a danger than "townies"
newhaven 1 year ago
The "city" ranking is completely inaccurate and nobody other than a discredited media outlet, or someone with a bone to pick, would use it. One can't compare cities in this way, it is like comparing mice to elephants. You must look at more standardized comparisons such as those based around blocks, neighborhoods, counties or regions.
In any standardized comparison of violent crime, like those used by DiversityData or Urban Institute, New Haven is pretty much an average American city. For example see http://www.morganquitno.com/met02safe.htm - New Haven's in the middle of the pack, with a safety record similar to Sioux City and Colorado Springs.
New Haven has some pockets with more crimes, like any city, but most of the city is quite safe especially when you consider the number of workers and visitors who come into the area each day.
mrmilla 1 year ago
Rhed bobbin's a racist! N ur very nieve 2 think u have nothin 2 worry bout bekuz u live downtown! Smh! U can't be an educated adult talking like that! Who r u 2 say if all those kidz or ppl who r commiting these crimez are poor or under priviledged???? Sum of those kidz/ppl have more money than you and I but choose 2 b negative n take tha wrong route! You are the worst type of person on the planet, a divider who puts others down 2 make them selves feel good! Ppl like u dnt really matter tho, ur more so jus a waiste of space!we have enough social problems as it is, we dnt need racism making a come back! Smh! The worst!
yyyfan 1 year ago
Ok mrmilla well you talk like you're a 14 year old Rhed bobbin does have a point, some areas of New Haven are alot safer, or atleast feel safer than the areas like Westville...Isn't areas like that where the majority of New Haven police are dispatched to?
theyclusta 1 year ago
yyyfan--not 100% sure you meant that Westville is where most police are dispatched to or not, but that is patently false. Westville, along with East Rock and the East Shore, are the richest and (probably) safest neighborhoods in New Haven, followed by downtown. Very few police are dispatched to these areas, and they feel pretty safe at any time of day.
jinjdkla 1 year ago
Where's PK when I actually want to listen to his opinion today?
newhaven 11 months, 3 weeks ago
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/06/03/opinion/doc4de95d1f01145208649566.txt
YDN readers should note the above op-Ed.
ghost19ct 11 months, 1 week ago
I actualy live in one of the most dangerous parts of new haven rite now, and trust me "West Ville" is like Heaven being compared to Hell when you compare the two. I find it historicaly humorous that, as always someone(a white racist), Has something (A beguiling frivolous accusation) to say about a single race.
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