Murder Capital Of 2008? (Chicago: violent crime, live in, costs)

[memo92]

So theres only a few days left in the year, Is Chicago going to be the city that takes the awful title or is there a city that was worst than chicago this year?

[Chicagoland60426]

Unfortunately, Chicago is more likely to take the murder capital title this year, unless NYC top Chicago. As far as murder rate, there are cities more worse than Chicago, Philadelphia comes to mind.

[ChiMack]

chicago has 487 murders as of now, i think we have more though, we had 443 in all of 2007

philly has like 311 and had 407 in 07

nyc is right behind us though so they might take it

[lincolnparker]

how about new orleans?

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by memo92

So theres only a few days left in the year, Is Chicago going to be the city that takes the awful title or is there a city that was worst than chicago this year?

If you look at sheer numbers of murders for each city, Chicago will probably take the title of Murder Capital. If you look at per-capita murder rates, however (which is the better indicator), not even close. Quite a few US cities have murder rates far worse than Chicago's, in some cases double.

[noid_1985]

Per Capita the title goes to New Orleans- Although 487+ murders are a lot, those numbers are way lower than the late 80s/90s crack epidemic numbers (850+ murders)

[Lookout Kid]

I don't think anyone should assign the title "Murder Capital" based on total numbers. It just doesn't make sense. As far as I'm concerned, the "Murder Capital" is the city with the highest murder rate, and Chicago isn't even in the top ten in that category.

[hsw]

As long as the murders largely occur amongst criminals, they actually save taxpayers many wasted dollars in police efforts, prosecution costs and jailing costs...

Violent crime is only relevant when it significantly affects law-abiding, innocent taxpayers...and forces profitable cos. and affluent taxpayers to flee City for affluent suburbs

Usually, smart taxpayers have common sense to protect themselves from violent crime...in their choice of residence (specific part of City vs specific suburbs) and choosing to commute via own car, not mass transit or walking or cabs; secured garage at office, etc etc

[MILWCITY]

[Frank the Tank]

Not surprised by the map except for the relatively high rate in the Loop. I wonder if that's more of a function of the smaller number of residents that live in the Loop proper.