Category: Crime Stats

The beautiful state of Virginia is shaped by the Chesapeake Bay to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. The tenth state to become a part of the United States, Virginia has a rich and fascinating history, nice cities, and beautiful rural areas.

If you live in Virginia or you are considering moving to Virginia, you might be wondering how safe your town or city is.

When looking at crime in the United States, one of the most common resources is the FBI crime statistics. Looking at violent crime and property crime, you can get a sense for whether or not an area is safe.

Let’s take a look at Virginia crime statistics and which towns are safe in which are the most dangerous.

Virginia Crime Statistics

The state of Virginia is one of the states in the United States with the lowest crime rate. As far as violent crime goes, Virginia had the fourth-lowest rate. For property crime, Virginia was the 13th lowest state in the US..

The only states with a lower violent crime rate than Virginia according to the 2018 statistics were Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. Her 100,000 residents in 2018, Virginia had 200 violent crimes. The national statistics per 100,000 people was 369 violent offenses.

In 2018, all of the metropolitan areas of Virginia had violent crime rates that were below the US average, and most were lower than the national rate for property crime as well.

The metro area with the least amount of violent crime is the Winchester and Harrisonburg Metro areas. The metro areas that are known to have the most violent crime were Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, Richmond, and Roanoke.

Harrisonburg and Lynchburg had the lease property crime out of all of the Virginia Metro areas. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Roanoke, and Richmond had the highest property crime rate out of all of the metro areas.

The Safest Towns and Cities in Virginia

There are a number of towns in Virginia that have less than 3000 residents who have practically no crime each year. However, considering that these areas are so sparsely populated, our list will focus on areas that have at least more than 3000 residents.

Bridgewater

Bridgewater has a small population of roughly 6000 will. Located in the Harrisonburg metropolitan area, there were not any crime and Bridgewater according to the most recent FBI crime statistics.

Wytheville

This southwestern Virginia town is one of the safest places in Virginia. With roughly 8000 people, it can be considered the second safest town in the state.

Falls Church

Located in the Washington metropolitan area, Falls Church has a population of around 14,000. Considering how large the population is of this town, the crime rate is quite low. Considering that the median income for a household in Falls Church was $120,000, it is clear that this town is largely made up of wealthy residents.

Fairfax City

The city of Fairfax has roughly 22,000 residents. Considering the size of its population, it has a remarkably low crime rate, but the FBI crime statistics stating that only 18 crimes occurred there in 2019.

Purcellville

This town of over 7000 people in Loudoun County is also one of the safest cities in Virginia. In 2019, there was only 8 crime in this town.

Big Stone Gap

Big Stone gap only had four crimes in 2019. Located in Wise County in southwestern Virginia, this is a small town with roughly 5000 people.

The Most Dangerous Towns and Cities in Virginia

While Virginia is a relatively safe state compared to other states in the United States, some parts of the Commonwealth are more dangerous than others. Let’s take a look at which towns and cities are considered to be the most dangerous in Virginia.

Portsmouth

Out of the cities that range in size between 30,000 and 100,000 residents, Portsmith ranks the worst as far as crime goes. With a population of over 93,000, their were nearly 900 crimes in the city in 2019.

Richmond

The capital of the state of Virginia, Richmond is one of the more dangerous parts of the state. That being said, with many large cities, there are certain areas that are much safer than others in certain areas that are more dangerous.

With a population of over 230,000, there were over 1000 crimes in Richmond in 2019.

Roanoke

Roanoke has nearly 100,000 residents. The largest municipality in Southwest Virginia, Roanoke had over 380 crimes in 2019.

Galax

Galax is a town with only roughly 6000 residents. However, there were 29 crimes committed there in 2019.

Petersburg

Petersburg is one of the most dangerous of these in Virginia. With over 30,000 residents, there were 234 crimes in Petersburg in 2019

Newport News

The city of Newport News has over 177,000 residents. At the same time, and 2019, they had over 1000 crimes. This makes it one of the more dangerous places in Virginia.

Do You Need Help With the Bail Bond Process?

Living in safe cities can ensure that you and your family face the smallest amount of risk when it comes to violent crimes. When an individual grows up in an area that is more prone to crime, there is a higher likelihood that they will end up committing crimes themselves. Having a sense of what the Virginia crime statistics say can help you to understand which regions you’d like to live in and which regions you’d prefer to stay away from.

If you have gotten into some trouble with the law, whether it be due to DUI charges, domestic violence charges, or otherwise, you might be looking for bail bond solutions. Our licensed bail bond agents are here to provide you and your loved ones with the professional assistance you need.

Do you need help finding a bail bond solution? Find an agent today!

 

11% of North Carolina residents encounter a violent crime, and 24% encounter a property crime. While this doesn’t make it the most dangerous state in the country, these are still worrying numbers.

Crime statistics provide information to answer several important questions about crime, including what, where, and why. They give a more accurate picture of the criminal landscape, and it can be a surprising one.

Read on for a list of shocking crime statistics in North Carolina.

North Carolina Crime Statistics

The overall crime rate in the state of North Carolina is 28.72. Crime statistics provide us more detail about these instances.

Looking at the data can help you learn several shocking facts about crime in North Carolina. It shows what contributes to it, the differences between fear and reality, changes in DWI convictions, and differences in rates for each part of the state.

What Contributes to Crime?

Poverty has a major effect on crime numbers in NC. 4.7% of its citizens are unemployed, and 13.9% are unsure where their next meal will come from.

The poverty rate in North Carolina is 16.4% compared to the national average of 14.7%

This explains why the state’s poverty crime rates are several times higher than its violent crime rates. Desperate, hungry individuals contribute to the 24.94 property crime rate that dwarves the 3.78 violent crime rate.

A lack of law enforcement is another issue. There are only 2.68 officers for every 1,000 citizens.

Part of the reason for this decrease in law enforcement numbers is that there isn’t enough money to hire them. While it’s not clear where it’s going, the state’s budget is not focused on providing officers.

Funding for police in North Carolina is also decreasing in every area. This includes:

• 27.5% less for police departments
• 18.2% less for sheriff’s offices
• 5.3% less for Highway Patrol

Decreases in crime statistics can be partially explained by this lack of funding. It leads to fewer qualified officers to find criminals and make arrests.

Poverty and a lack of law enforcement are only two of the most common motivations for crime. There is a range of other reasons, such as a lack of education, substance abuse, and gang activity.

Fear vs. Reality

In almost every state across the country, there is concern among citizens about falling victim to criminals. Some states face this more than others, but their fears aren’t always based on reality.

57% of North Carolina residents worry about crime every day, compared to the national average of 46%. It’s a valid concern, but citizens’ fears don’t always match up with reality.

37% of citizens think being robbed on the street is the most likely violent crime, which is higher than the national average of 27%. These fears don’t reflect what NC crime statistics show because only 22% of the state’s violent crimes are robberies.

There can be truth in citizen’s fears and actions. They occasionally reflect actual trends in the state’s crime rate.

50% of citizens worry about being assaulted by a stranger, which is higher than the national average of 40%. Aggravated assault makes up 70% of violent crimes.

The state’s citizens also make a more concerted effort than other areas of the country to protect their valuables and loved ones from theft. 33% of homes in North Carolina have a security system, and 35% use a guard dog.

These measures protect against larceny-theft and burglary, the first and second-most-common forms of property crime. The latter makes up 24% of reported incidents and the former takes up 69%.

Whether or not a fear reflects real crime statistics, it’s important to compare it to the data for accurate information.

DWI and DUI Decreases

On a positive note, DWI and DUI conviction rates have been dropping since 2014. The 50,000 arrests that year put more people in jail than are enrolled in N.C. University and almost as many as the population of Chapel Hill.

The numbers are lower now and continue to decrease. There have been at least 20% fewer DUI and DWI convictions in the period from 2015-2020. New laws and a renewed focus from law enforcement help keep the numbers down.

All citizens or visitors to North Carolina should know when the law says they could face a DWI or DUI charge.

Any driver under the age of 18 caught with any alcohol in their system will receive one. Adults with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% in a car or 0.04% in a commercial vehicle can face a DUI charge as well.

North Carolina law states that drivers can face a DWI charge even if they have no alcohol in their system. It applies to any impairing substance, including opioids, benzos, and other controlled substances.

This decrease may not be as much of the result of actual fewer crimes as one may think. They’re also affected by the previously mentioned decrease in capable law enforcement ready to combat the problem of substance abuse.

Crime Rates Across the State

Crime states in NC differ depending on where in the state you live. Like most states, crowded urban areas tend to be the most dangerous places to live.

Crime rates in large cities like Durham and Charlotte are almost double the national violent crime rate of 3.69 offenses per 1,000 citizens. The sheer number of residents, lack of law enforcement, and harsher conditions contribute to this increase.

Well-kept, remote areas have lower crime rates. Pinehurst is the safest municipality with a violent crime rate of 0.93 per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 6.85 per 1,000.

Looking at the data is one of the best ways to decide where in North Carolina to live. There can be conflicting numbers, so you must find the most accurate source possible.

Where Can I Learn More?

Crime statistics are one of the best ways to learn about the conditions in an area, whether you live there or want to visit. The numbers in North Carolina can be shocking when examined more closely.

Poverty is a major motivator for crime in the area, which is why its property crime rates are higher than those for violent crime. The exact numbers differ across the state, but crowded urban areas tend to have higher numbers.

Going beyond the numbers is important to clear up misconceptions about what crimes are truly happening and why. The crimes that seem the most likely aren’t always the ones being committed. Decreases in certain offenses like DWI and DUI charges don’t always show as much improvement as one may think.

This information is only the beginning of finding out how likely you are to encounter a crime in your state and what to do if it happens. Contact us for more information today.