[Jammie]

Today I was reading in a mag and they had something interesting since we always talk about the crime in Florida. The article is about optimism and pessimism and this is part of what it says. They contacted Morgan Quitno Press, a Kansas firm that analyzes crime stats. These are the top ten cities with a DECREASE in crime:

1. Atlanta

2. Tampa

3. Jackson

4. Chattanooga

5. Gary

6. Topeka

7. Miami

8. Lakeland

9. Wilmington

10. Baltimore

It does go on to say that though the decline is a reason for hope, the cities had a huge crime problem to begin with and Atlanta is still the 17th most dangerous city to live in. BUT the crime is decreasing.

[hiknapster]

I don't know if I trust those statistics, especially Atlanta's. Back in the 90s, Atlanta purposely deflated its crime statistics in time for the Olympics. The police chief came clean about eight years later. Could be true, but who knows?

[sunrico90]

Does the report break-down by crime type? Many factors are taken into consideration while performing an analysis for this topic. Please provide web-site if they have one for the article.... see below...

Note from Dept of Justice..
Caution against ranking

Each year when Crime in the United States is published, many entities—news media, tourism agencies, and other groups with an interest in crime in our Nation—use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rankings, however, are merely a quick choice made by the data user; they provide no insight into the many variables that mold the crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, these rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties, along with their residents.

[hiknapster]

Good point, Sunrico.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

Does the report break-down by crime type? Many factors are taken into consideration while performing an analysis for this topic. Please provide web-site if they have one for the article.... see below...

Note from Dept of Justice..
Caution against ranking

Each year when Crime in the United States is published, many entities—news media, tourism agencies, and other groups with an interest in crime in our Nation—use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rankings, however, are merely a quick choice made by the data user; they provide no insight into the many variables that mold the crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, these rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties, along with their residents.

It doesn't give the specific crimes. It just says these are the cities where you're not less likely to run into crime. I have no link for it, but it's in the AARP mag and the name of the topic it is in is "Optimism" under the Life, Etc. section. I realize you probably don't get that mag, but some of your older friends may have it. I've actually been reading it for several years now~way before I was 50 cause my husband joined several years ago. Anyway, hope you can find it and let me know what you think.

[gypsychic]

The statistics for Tampa are not accurate - there was an ex-cop on the news recently running for some political office who made a huge deal about the underreporting and mis-reporting of crimes in Tampa to make the city look better. Trust me, this city if full of crime and it is NOT going down.

[littlelovemuffin]

Wow! Tampa isn't #1 crime city in the U.S. anymore? Was for the past 10 years!

[riverviewnative]

It is just because the power that be in the county smooth it over to sell more houses, clog the roads, schools,businesses, restraunts, beaches well you get the idea. All about money and nothing about the long time residents. You can check out crime here in the paper by zip code. Riverview is one hot crime spot.

[LeavingFlorida05]

Crime statistics are so easily manipulated. Florida is unique in that crime is literally everywhere. It's not concentrated in one area. If you go to a city like St. Louis, you'll find the crime concentrated in specific areas, leaving other areas pretty much free of crime. Then again, St. Louis is a pretty segregated city, economically, compared to Florida, where you have ghettos next to million dollar homes. In Florida, you can't escape it.

[backtofla]

there are plenty of places to escape crime in fla --- please. to say that you cant escape it is rediculous. i cant believe lakeland is even mentioned as a city which crime is decreasing. lakeland's "crime problem" is not nearly of the magnitude of other cities crime problem. why even talk about lakeland when you can talk about other cities such as ... ummm... new orleans.

also, tampa has not been #1 for 10 yrs in a row. you must have been thinking of d.c., st louis, or detroit. i guess they sound alike.