Crime Data Comparison Paper
CRIME DATA COMPARISON PAPER –Murder Rate
According to the FBI Unified Crime Report for 2009, there were 385 murders in that year. The total population for Detroit in 2009 was just over 951,000. (The Neighborhood Scout, 2009) In Minneapolis, a city with about one-half the population of Detroit, the number of murders was 47. Not only is the population less than Detroit, the murder rate 6 times lower than Detroit. Here you can see that population seems to play a role in the amount of murders for these metropolitan areas. The area that had the most reported incidents of murder was Detroit. Minneapolis has shown that they have seen a 17% decrease in violent crimes over the past 3 years. In the previous year, 2008 Detroit reported the murder rate of 339. This seemed to be an overall drop from the previous year 383. Though this seems like a positive sign for the city, this merely shows a decrease in violent crimes in the nation. (Hendron, 2009) It seems that more major cities have seen a drop in crime rates over time. The 339 murders over a population just over 951,000 make Detroit the deadliest metropolitan area in the United States. Additionally, Police officials in Detroit had misreported overall 2008 murder figures intentionally to avoid this distinction. (Hendron, 2009) Minneapolis, in comparison, saw their murders drop from about forty to eighteen percent in 2008. (Kohler, 2009) As the rates of crime for these areas show patterns, one thing is certain, Detroit as a whole has a higher crime rate capacity. It appears that in Detroit the crime rate decreased approximately 11% and Minneapolis dropped about 20%. The rates have changed for both areas over the last few years. They appear to have been dropping when compared to other major cities and metropolitan areas. One theory that might explain a city’s murder rate is the lack of good, affordable housing. (Jeralyn, 2009) There are several theories on the reason for an areas murder rate to increase, decrease, or
According to the FBI Unified Crime Report for 2009, there were 385 murders in that year. The total population for Detroit in 2009 was just over 951,000. (The Neighborhood Scout, 2009) In Minneapolis, a city with about one-half the population of Detroit, the number of murders was 47. Not only is the population less than Detroit, the murder rate 6 times lower than Detroit. Here you can see that population seems to play a role in the amount of murders for these metropolitan areas. The area that had the most reported incidents of murder was Detroit. Minneapolis has shown that they have seen a 17% decrease in violent crimes over the past 3 years. In the previous year, 2008 Detroit reported the murder rate of 339. This seemed to be an overall drop from the previous year 383. Though this seems like a positive sign for the city, this merely shows a decrease in violent crimes in the nation. (Hendron, 2009) It seems that more major cities have seen a drop in crime rates over time. The 339 murders over a population just over 951,000 make Detroit the deadliest metropolitan area in the United States. Additionally, Police officials in Detroit had misreported overall 2008 murder figures intentionally to avoid this distinction. (Hendron, 2009) Minneapolis, in comparison, saw their murders drop from about forty to eighteen percent in 2008. (Kohler, 2009) As the rates of crime for these areas show patterns, one thing is certain, Detroit as a whole has a higher crime rate capacity. It appears that in Detroit the crime rate decreased approximately 11% and Minneapolis dropped about 20%. The rates have changed for both areas over the last few years. They appear to have been dropping when compared to other major cities and metropolitan areas. One theory that might explain a city’s murder rate is the lack of good, affordable housing. (Jeralyn, 2009) There are several theories on the reason for an areas murder rate to increase, decrease, or