violent crime in johnson city ? (crime rates, live in, legally)

[MarandaStephenson]

If I can remember correctly, there were only seven murders last year, six murders in 2005, and five in 2004 in the entire Tri-Cities. Which includes Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol. It was an article in the Johnson City Press that I remember reading this information. Also, I don't believe this area even had a murder until like half way through the year. I would definately say that this is a safe place to live. Like mbmouse said, most crimes that do occur, are either drug related or one person who knows another. So, if you don't do drugs and have decent friends, you should be ok.

[MooksterL1]

Originally Posted by jchometeam

During my time at ETSU (recently received my M.A in Criminal Justice) we studied in depth crime in the area, and the crime rate is well below the national average, as well as below average for cities of similar size. I either personally know or have met many of the police officers in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Jonesborough, and I must say we have a very competent police force in this area. There is not a street in the Tri-Cities that I would feel unsafe walking down at night! The Johnson City Press, as well as the television outlets in this area give a great deal of attention to each individual crime, making it seem much worse than it is.

I realize that this post is from July, but are you serious? Not a street in the Tri-Cities that you would feel unsafe walking down at night??? Come on now. I worked with kids in the Cloud community in Kingsport just last year and I would definitely not want to walk down Dorothy, Globe or any of the other streets in that area at night - even during the day is debatable. We had our center broken into at least once a month and this time last year I spent the evening with the police as someone had broken into and was occupying a bus we used for classroom space.
I like this area and I would say that we probably have a lower rate of crime than many cities, but I can't imagine why people paint it in such a unrealistic light so often on these threads.

[mbmouse]

When this first came up about the crime stats seeming so high according to the different sites available for the Tri-Cities, I started asking around. The concrete answers I got were actually from Kingsport and I posted them here a few weeks ago: http://www.city-data.com/forum/kings...-stats-tn.html
This shed a lot of light for me as I live here and I just do not see the crime that is reported in the stats nor hear about it on the national news. I mean if there is a murder or other awful crime committed here, you hear about it, for weeks on the news and in the papers. I am a mom with boys, I pay attention to this stuff and want to know how safe my kids are. I feel safe here and I feel that they are safe here.

[MooksterL1]

That is a really interesting site! I've been wandering around on it for about an hour now. LOL I notice that Winged Deer Park is not listed, but I imagine that will change next year.

[JAAP_princess]

Originally Posted by MooksterL1

I realize that this post is from July, but are you serious? Not a street in the Tri-Cities that you would feel unsafe walking down at night??? Come on now. I worked with kids in the Cloud community in Kingsport just last year and I would definitely not want to walk down Dorothy, Globe or any of the other streets in that area at night - even during the day is debatable. We had our center broken into at least once a month and this time last year I spent the evening with the police as someone had broken into and was occupying a bus we used for classroom space.
I like this area and I would say that we probably have a lower rate of crime than many cities, but I can't imagine why people paint it in such a unrealistic light so often on these threads.

I've found that as well on some of these forums. In fact some divergent opinions seem to be shouted down, even erased, or labeled as somehow 'breaking the forum rules'.

There seems to be an overt effort to do exactly that as you state > paint an unrealistic picture, but some who participate on these fourms are known real estate agents, mortgage lenders, or their buds, so they MUST be glowing in their own reviews....WHY would they admit to too many negatives about their own homes or community ?

[jchometeam]

I dont know, maybe we just like our area. Personally, I would not feel scared in any of these areas simply walking down the street at night. But some people are naturally more and less scared of the same situation.

Part of the basis for my posting was that during a 5 month volunteer stint with the Washington County State Probation/Parole in 2005 (all adults, all felonies), I got what I believe a good idea of the typical felony crimes in this area. The typical probation officer's caseload consisted of people who were arrested for fights with people they knew, and drugs (specifically marijuana and prescription drugs.) Hardly ever did I see someone who was assaulted on the street by a stranger. However, I admit this was the Johnson City area, and not Kingsport or Bristol. There might be pockets somewhere that are not like what I have witnessed.

There was a murder recently in the Southwest Virginia which made news here, and this is typical of the murders in the area. A man shot two of his brothers, then killed himself over some sort of land dispute. These types of things happen sometimes, but makes me no less afraid to walk down a tri cities street at night.

[JAAP_princess]

Originally Posted by jchometeam

I dont know, maybe we just like our area. Personally, I would not feel scared in any of these areas simply walking down the street at night. But some people are naturally more and less scared of the same situation.

Part of the basis for my posting was that during a 5 month volunteer stint with the Washington County State Probation/Parole in 2005 (all adults, all felonies), I got what I believe a good idea of the typical felony crimes in this area. The typical probation officer's caseload consisted of people who were arrested for fights with people they knew, and drugs (specifically marijuana and prescription drugs.) Hardly ever did I see someone who was assaulted on the street by a stranger. However, I admit this was the Johnson City area, and not Kingsport or Bristol. There might be pockets somewhere that are not like what I have witnessed.

There was a murder recently in the Southwest Virginia which made news here, and this is typical of the murders in the area. A man shot two of his brothers, then killed himself over some sort of land dispute. These types of things happen sometimes, but makes me no less afraid to walk down a tri cities street at night.

I rest my case, another real estate hawker professional.

It's sillyto attempt to isolate crime in Johnson City from any other close small town or region. People migrate, so does crime, and it's all part of the SAME MSA (metropolitan statistical area) !

"FEELING SAFE" has nothing to do with the hard facts and stats. 'Witnessing' crime, or not reading about it doesn't have anything to do with what occurs factually. Everyone wants to 'feel' safe in their community.

What real estate propfessional or local lender whose livlihood DEPENDS on house trades would say anything else but crazy stuff like " heck I don't see any crime", or "that was in another community, not mine", or stuff like " I love it here, come on down...I can help sell you a house or get you into one of my excellent mortgage subprime products" ?

[JAAP_princess]

If I can remember correctly, there were only seven murders last year, six murders in 2005, and five in 2004 in the entire Tri-Cities. Which includes Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol. It was an article in the Johnson City Press that I remember reading this information. Also, I don't believe this area even had a murder until like half way through the year. I would definately say that this is a safe place to live. Like mbmouse said, most crimes that do occur, are either drug related or one person who knows another. So, if you don't do drugs and have decent friends, you should be ok.




In my opinion, this is one of the most parochial assessments about crime happening to residents that I have ever, ever read

You don't have to participate in crime to be victimized by it

[MooksterL1]

Originally Posted by jchometeam

I dont know, maybe we just like our area. Personally, I would not feel scared in any of these areas simply walking down the street at night. But some people are naturally more and less scared of the same situation.

Part of the basis for my posting was that during a 5 month volunteer stint with the Washington County State Probation/Parole in 2005 (all adults, all felonies), I got what I believe a good idea of the typical felony crimes in this area. The typical probation officer's caseload consisted of people who were arrested for fights with people they knew, and drugs (specifically marijuana and prescription drugs.) Hardly ever did I see someone who was assaulted on the street by a stranger. However, I admit this was the Johnson City area, and not Kingsport or Bristol. There might be pockets somewhere that are not like what I have witnessed.

There was a murder recently in the Southwest Virginia which made news here, and this is typical of the murders in the area. A man shot two of his brothers, then killed himself over some sort of land dispute. These types of things happen sometimes, but makes me no less afraid to walk down a tri cities street at night.

I say we all meet in Cloud and we will drive along while you walk down the streets "safely".

[MooksterL1]

Originally Posted by jchometeam

I dont know, maybe we just like our area. Personally, I would not feel scared in any of these areas simply walking down the street at night. But some people are naturally more and less scared of the same situation.

Part of the basis for my posting was that during a 5 month volunteer stint with the Washington County State Probation/Parole in 2005 (all adults, all felonies), I got what I believe a good idea of the typical felony crimes in this area. The typical probation officer's caseload consisted of people who were arrested for fights with people they knew, and drugs (specifically marijuana and prescription drugs.) Hardly ever did I see someone who was assaulted on the street by a stranger. However, I admit this was the Johnson City area, and not Kingsport or Bristol. There might be pockets somewhere that are not like what I have witnessed.

There was a murder recently in the Southwest Virginia which made news here, and this is typical of the murders in the area. A man shot two of his brothers, then killed himself over some sort of land dispute. These types of things happen sometimes, but makes me no less afraid to walk down a tri cities street at night.

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Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center

Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center

Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center