Reasons Detroit is Ranked One of Most Dangerous Cities in U.S.

According to statistics provided by the Citizens’ Council for Public Security for the year 2016, several cities in the United States ranked in the upper echelon among the world’s most dangerous. One of the most famous of these American cities that has unfortunately suffered from a high crime rate for several decades now is Detroit.

If you have been accused of a crime in the city of Detroit, our Detroit criminal defense lawyers at Davis Law Firm understand what is at stake for you. We know how to aggressively defend your rights and fight hard on your behalf for the best possible outcome in your case. Don’t wait to get the legal advocate you need.

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Homicide Rate Rises Again

In 2014 and 2015, the homicide rate in Detroit actually declined. However, 2016 brought another increase in that rate with 302 murders (unjustifiable homicides) occurring in the city with a 677,116 population. In the previous year of 2015, Detroit ranking only behind St. Louis, MO, held the second highest rate for violent crime in the United States, according to data provided by the FBI. This equated to 880 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Crimes other than murder, such as robbery, carjacking, and nonfatal shootings dropped according to data from the Detroit Police Department. There are, in fact, some neighborhoods in the downtown area experiencing a recovery; however, others are still burdened with violence and poverty.

Regarding the 2016 statistics, with 302 homicides occurring that year, the equivalent rate equates to 44.6 homicides per 100,000 residents. This figure makes Detroit a city with one of the highest murder rates in the U.S. However, it is not as high as it once was some 30 years ago. In 1987, the rate was 63 homicides per 100,000 residents.

The 2016 homicide total of 302 exceeds 2015’s total of 295 and 2014’s total of 299, a 2.3 percent and 1 percent increase respectively over the previous two years. Going back one more year to 2013, Detroit’s homicide total was 332. Therefore, the overall homicide total was down by about 10 percent from 2013, but has experienced an uptick from the previous two years. Therefore, it’s hard to determine if the recent progress in homicide total reductions has stalled out temporarily or if a worse trend in the wrong direction has just begun.

One order of business the Detroit Police Department desires to engage in is to work with the Michigan Department of Corrections in assisting individuals who leave the prison system to make better and sounder choices once they’re on the outside. If such can be done, Detroit Police Chief James Craig believes they can shrink the number of homicides occurring in the city.

Other Crimes – Positive and Negative Progress

The occurrence of other serious crimes also increased in the city of Detroit between 2015 and 2016. Rapes rose from 537 to 564 between the two years, an increase of 4.8 percent. As well, vehicle thefts increased from 8,035 to 8,534 between the two years, an increase of 5.8 percent.

However, the occurrence of car jackings fell quite significantly from 532 in 2015 to 382 in 2016, a drop of 39 percent. The figure is even significantly lower than the 2013 statistic which reveals 782 car jackings occurred that year.

Nonfatal shootings, which police chief Craig describes as ‘unsuccessful homicide’, dropped to 982 occurrences in 2016 from 1,035 occurrences in 2015. This represents an 8 percent reduction from the previous year.

Although the city of Detroit has been known, and is known as, the “Motor City,” it received a notorious nickname by some in 1974 as the “Murder City” when 714 homicides occurred in the city that year. Putting things in perspective, the 295 unjustifiable homicides occurring in 2015 is a significant improvement from that time in the past, and is actually the lowest number recorded in the city since 1967, when 291 individuals lost their lives to homicide.

Contact an Experienced Detroit Criminal Defense Lawyer

At Drias Law Group, we understand that every criminal case is different and requires a specific and targeted defense to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. You can count on a skilled and experienced Detroit criminal defense attorney from our team to build a defense on your behalf and stand strong as your aggressive advocate.

Get the legal help you need today. Call us at (313) 944-0236 to set up a free case evaluation.