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The FBI’s annual report on national crime was released last week. The good news is that New Orleans saw a 17% fall in the number of violent crimes over last year. The bad news is we’re still the most murderous city in America. By far.
New Orleans officials complain that the FBI is using outdated population figures. The FBI used a figure of 281,440 from July of 2008, whereas the city claims the population is now 311,858. And some say even that figure is low, since it doesn’t include thousands of undocumented laborers. (Which begs the question, Who does count undocumented laborers?) Anyway, it’s all quibbling because whichever population figure you use, we’re STILL Number One.
Using the FBI’s figures, New Orleans had 64 murders per 100,000 population. Using the city’s figures, New Orleans had 57 murders per 100,000 residents. Which means that even if you fiddle the numbers, poor ole Number Two, St. Louis, with a measly 47 murders per, has a ways to go to catch up. Scary Baltimore is third on the list, with 37 per, with Birmingham giving them a run for their money at 36.
But you know what’s really scary? Baton Rouge is Number Seven! Thirty murders per 100,000. Who’d have thought?
Why is our murder rate so high? Well, we can blame Katrina for some of it. People are depressed and short-tempered; they can’t find housing and jobs. Plus, population disruptions lead to gang territorial disputes, which lead to killings. But the truth is we were killing each other at a scary rate before the hurricane. Why? I don’t know. And I’m wondering why someone isn’t asking THAT question.
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7 comments:
I just looked up New Zealand's:
0.0111524 per 1000 people, which makes 0.000111524 per 100,000
one ten-thousandth of a person...
I don't know... When I lived in New Orleans, it seemed to me that poverty and lack of opportunity shortened tempers and killed hope, and that a pervasive culture of honor made violence a solution of *first* resort.
Oh, and let's not forget a police force whose corruption and sloth were legendary.
Just my two cents...
0.000111524 per 100,000
Hmmm. I wonder what the statistics are (here [NZ] and in New Orleans) for violent versus non-violent crime...
Steve, I think you're right. Add to that the terrible public education, which helps perpetuate the poverty, and a mindset that thinks as long as it's a certain segment of the population killing each other, it's their problem (unless one of the shots goes wild and kills someone watching a Mardi Gras parade).
I remember visiting my mom down here one time in the 90s, when there were something like 400 people killed that year, then going home to Australia to see that the murder rate for the entire country was in the low double digits. New Zealand is obviously the same. it can be done.
Oriannia, I don't think our statistics for non-violent crime are very good, either.
Long term corruption in the police department hasn't helped, although things are better now than when I first moved here.
I am a new fan and have blazed through all the St Cyr mysteries. I LOVE them and can't wait for the next one. Congratulations on Where Serpents Sleep being a finalist in the Rita. Very cool. I can't make the conference this year but I will be cheering for you in spirit.
Cher
Cher Gorman, I'm so glad to hear you liked the St. Cyr books. And thanks for cheering for me for the Rita!
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