The most violent states in the USA

[Os Cangaceiros]

1. Tennessee
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 643.6
> Poverty rate: 17.9%
> Pct. of population with bachelor's degree or higher: 24.3%
> Property crimes per 100,000: 3,371.4 (10th highest)

Tennessee has the dubious distinction of having the worst violent crime rate in the country. The state was among the top 10 in the country for murders and robberies and was first for aggravated assaults, with an estimated 479.6 for every 100,000 residents. Tennessee's 41,550 violent crimes in 2012 were up 6.8% from 2011 but down 10% from 2007, when there were 46,380 violent crimes. There were 388 murders in the state in 2012, up for a second straight year. To be fair, Tennessee's violent streak is concentrated in some of the major metropolitan areas. Memphis's violent crime rate was the nation's fifth worst, while Nashville's was the 18th worst. Like many states with high violent crime, poverty in Tennessee is acute, and high school and college graduation rates are lower than most of the country.

2. Nevada
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 607.6
> Poverty rate: 16.4%
> Pct. of population with bachelor's degree or higher: 22.4%
> Property crimes per 100,000: 2,809.4 (23rd highest)

Nevada ranks among the worst in the country for its robbery rate, motor-vehicle theft rate and aggravated assault rate. It also ranks high in categories like burglaries and forcible rape. Much of the crime, state officials maintain, comes from the swarms of tourists who visit Las Vegas, Reno and other cities with casinos and related entertainment. Factor out the casino traffic in Reno, and local crime rates are similar to the rest of the nation, Emmanuel Barthe, a criminal justice professor at the University of Nevada Reno, told the Reno Gazette-Journal. Nevada also has among the lowest high school and college graduation rates.

3. Alaska
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 603.2
> Poverty rate: 10.1%
> Pct. of population with bachelor's degree or higher: 28.0%
> Property crimes per 100,000: 2,739.4 (24th lowest)

It may seem incongruous that Alaska, which has a low poverty rate and high levels of high school and college graduates, would be among the states with the worst crime rates. It has among the worst violent crime rates in part because of its forcible rape rate: 79.7 per 100,000 residents, the nation's highest rate. (Next is South Dakota, with a rate of 70.2 per 100,000.) Also disturbing, a 2010 study suggests that 37% of women who live in Alaska say they've "suffered some form of sexual assault in their lives," the Anchorage Daily News reported. Alaska is also second in aggravated assaults. While rape and assault rates are high, other crime levels are average.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/10/05/most-dangerous-states/2925679/

[Geiseric]

Wow shit that's heavy. This country is practically a warzone.

[Aleister Granger]

I notice that none of these are predominantly black states.

I'd rub it in the face of Stormfront, but morals won't let me. Which is one of the reasons why I'm trying to identify with communism.

[the debater]

Very interesting info. I have to say I'm really surprised by Alaska. Normally, I would figure that rural environment + low poverty rate = low crime rate, judging from what I've read. But then again, maybe rape/sexual assault isn't a crime related to poverty.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I live in Alaska and I think a couple things contribute to it, including the extreme lack of daylight in some places, and alcohol, etc. Sexual assault is a pretty big problem here, though, it's the state with the highest rates of rape and domestic violence, and either the first or second highest rate of men murdering women, according to the local news I was watching recently. I honestly can't give a good explanation of why this situation exists here at the rate it does...

[Venas Abiertas]

From what I've heard, Alaska seems to attract a lot of these hyper-individualist, survivalist types. Is that true? Could it simply be that Alaska attracts people who have a hard time getting along with others? (Native peoples excepted, of course.) People like that often want to have their own way, and can be willing to use force to get it. I think violence against women can often be an extreme form of bullying, with a man who thinks his superior size or strength gives him the "right" to hit or sexually use a woman.

Is this an unfair stereotype of Alaska? Am I totally off base? I notice the state is heavily Republican and conservatives tend to have that "might is right" mentality as well.

[Os Cangaceiros]

From what I've heard, Alaska seems to attract a lot of these hyper-individualist, survivalist types. Is that true? Could it simply be that Alaska attracts people who have a hard time getting along with others? (Native peoples excepted, of course.) People like that often want to have their own way, and can be willing to use force to get it. I think violence against women can often be an extreme form of bullying, with a man who thinks his superior size or strength gives him the "right" to hit or sexually use a woman.

Is this an unfair stereotype of Alaska? Am I totally off base? I notice the state is heavily Republican and conservatives tend to have that "might is right" mentality as well.

Well the state attracts a lot of transients but they come here for economic reasons primarily, to work in Alaska's extractive industries. Alaska's political culture is individualistic but I'd argue that it's much less reactionary (in terms of American mainstream politics) than many other Republican-dominated states. Both senators from this state support same-sex marriage and are pro-choice, for example.

[Rafiq]

Isolated environments are more prone to open the space to direct domestic oppression of women, and violence towards women. This comes off as no surprise.