Violent crimes are on the rise and the United States is no stranger to the realities of dangerous crime as almost all urban areas have chilling high crime rates. While the most violent crimes that are tracked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation range from rape and robbery to aggravated assault and burglary, the scariest violent crime of them all is homicide, and the southern states tend to be the deadliest.
The high homicide rate in the US and where they are more prevalent
Among advanced developed countries, the United States has the highest homicide rate: 7.8 per 100,000 population in 2020, the last time an exhaustive study on crime rates was completed and released. Although homicide rates vary considerably across America’s 50 states, the highest are typically found in the south. For example, the three states with the highest rates in 2020 were Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama and others trailing closely behind include Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
The reality about Louisiana’s crime rates
According to the FBI, Louisiana is the tenth most dangerous state in the US, with 1,065 homicides in 2020 and a reported crime rate of 1,469.9 per 100k. The state’s high crime rate is largely driven by its high number of property crimes, such as theft and burglary, as well as its high rate of gun violence. While it may be the tenth most dangerous state based on the number of homicides, the rate of 22.9 homicides per 100,000 people gives Louisiana the unfortunate homicide rate of second-highest in the US, behind only Mississippi.
Why is crime on the rise?
The rising crime rate in the US has caught the attention of the nation and many are asking “why is crime on the rise?” When it comes to determining the most dangerous states in the US, various factors need to be taken into account, such as crime rates, poverty levels, drug use, and gang activity. Likely the most eye-opening statistic is the dramatic uptick in murder over the last several years. FBI data shows that it rose nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020 — the largest single-year increase ever recorded in the U.S.
The Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania conducted an extensive study titled “Is Violent Crime Increasing?” What they learned is that recent increases in homicides and violent crime have been attributed to three factors: (1) COVID public health measures such as travel restrictions, school closures, lockdowns, and curfews, (2) COVID sickness and death itself, and (3) less aggressive police practices.
Crime scene cleanup help in Louisiana
With the rise of crimes, it’s important to know that a crime scene may occur anytime or anywhere and without the proper cleaning and disinfecting they can be incredibly dangerous. Biohazard cleaning companies make it their top priority to restore the scene to its original or better than original condition. With a potential for a significant amount of blood or other potentially infectious materials that contain infectious diseases, only certified crime scene cleanup technicians can properly clean a crime scene.
At Xtreme Cleaners, we are proud to have a team in Louisiana that is available 24/7 to provide families the support they need after a traumatic event. By working thoroughly and quickly to restore your home back to its original or better condition, we are here to help you every step of the way so you can gain peace of mind that you are safe to return. If you or someone you know needs professional help cleaning up a contaminated space, give us a call at (800) 524-9591.