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Crime in Little Rock is pretty bad. For the person asking about UALR. I worked there for 4 years (left 1.5 years ago) and the crime on campus was very high (not reflected in the reports that UALR releases). The neighborhoods surrounding UALR are some of the most dangerous in the city. When I had to go there at night I took along a club with me. Never had to use it, but did have to run some crack-heads off a few times.
UALR is a good school and if what the school provides fits your kids needs and budget, then I would recommend it but would tell your kid to live off campus and commute in during the day.
IMHO, the crime rate in Little Rock has dramatically increased since hurricane Katrina. The massive influx of people from New Orleans (and surrounding areas) caused crime to increase. The area that I live in (West Little Rock -- WLR -- Between Leawood and Colony West) has lots of apartments and the difference in crime pre/post Katrina is night and day. The police are understaffed and don't tend to respond very quickly (in WLR) unless there is a gun involved (maybe because there are not enough cops in the area). But, they do have enough cops to set up speed traps all over the place during the day. We have had to call the cops a few times because of a break-in (in progress) across the street and other disturbances and the response times have been very long. We are having to do more neighborhood 'policing' on our own because we cannot rely on the cops to be there when we need them to take care of the 'ganstas' roving the neighborhoods.
I feel so safe in my neighborhood (I grew up here and have lived in the neighborhood for 31 of my 40 years) that I am now getting a concealed carry permit and am trying to get my wife to take a firearms class.
Not all of Little Rock is like this. Just watch out for areas with apartments. I feel like a complete idiot for buying a house near 4 apartment complexes.
All that being said, the violent crime rate seems to be a bit lower than during the gang wars of the 90's. I was working at the UAMS ER back then and the number of gun shot wounds/stabbings was staggering.
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