UNiversity of MEMPHIS AND CITY HELP!!! (Knoxville, Martin: low crime, homes, neighborhood)

[jds]

hello!

i need your guys help! i live in iowa and im about to finish up my 2 yr degree in criminal justice ..... and im thinking about coming to memphis to go to school... i was wondering is the city really that bad???? crime wise? and i was wondering if it would be a good move or what other big city school you would recommend instead??????????????????????????????????????????? ????

[jds]

I really need your guys help on the school and the city please help ME!!!!!

[No2rdame]

I am a U of M graduate and a former resident of Memphis. While the school has made strides to improve its academic standing, it is still subpar compared to many schools. As far as criminal justice, it may be good in that area. After all, it IS in Memphis, one of the major crime capitals of this country.

Memphis does have a bad and well deserved reputation for crime. I moved away two years ago and never looked back.

[MightyMouse1975]

If you can avoid moving here do..
Memphis is like a real life version of Gothem City, only there's no batman to help the people out.
homocides are up to about 280 for the year I believe, maybe more.. maybe less, not too far off that mark though.

[NorthsideJacksonville]

^Um, Memphis has never had 200 homicides since '93. The current total I think is 148. Your criminal justice degree will serve you well in Memphis.

[Pearlbob]

Touche about how Memphis 'should' be a good city to live in if you want to be in the criminal justice field

I've lived in Iowa, and the difference between anywhere in Iowa and Memphis is...well...hard to comprehend. Like 2 different worlds. It's a big change. It's taken me many, many years to adjust and I'm still not all the way there. When I go home or visit friends, I always find it so wonderful to be back in safety again. All of Memphis isn't that bad, but overall....it's totally different than anywhere up there.

[JMSTiger]

Originally Posted by MightyMouse1975

If you can avoid moving here do..
Memphis is like a real life version of Gothem City, only there's no batman to help the people out.
homocides are up to about 280 for the year I believe, maybe more.. maybe less, not too far off that mark though.

This is the type of misinformation that is put out about Memphis that creates an unfounded hysteria. Memphis had 166 murders in 2006, not 280. The vast majority of those murders occurred in the poorest parts of town. The vast majority of violent crime overall occurs in the poorest areas of town. Much of the city is relatively safe. Like all cities, it depends where you live. The area around the University of Memphis (where I reside) is relatively void of violent crimes, but there is the occasional burglary. In fact, the University of Memphis campus has the lowest crime rate of any 4-year public university in the state of Tennessee.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by JMSTiger

This is the type of misinformation that is put out about Memphis that creates an unfounded hysteria. Memphis had 166 murders in 2006, not 280. The vast majority of those murders occurred in the poorest parts of town. The vast majority of violent crime overall occurs in the poorest areas of town. Much of the city is relatively safe. Like all cities, it depends where you live. The area around the University of Memphis (where I reside) is relatively void of violent crimes, but there is the occasional burglary. In fact, the University of Memphis campus has the lowest crime rate of any 4-year public university in the state of Tennessee.

The U of M does have a low crime rate considering where it's located, although UT-Martin claims to have the lowest crime rate among Tennessee's 4-year universities, and I'd be more inclined to believe that. But I did see an article in the U of M paper saying the U of M has the lowest crime rate among universities in Memphis.

Anyway, I lived in the neighborhood around the U of M, about 3 blocks south of campus. In 18 months my home was broken into 4 times, my car was broken into twice, a window knocked out, and then finally stolen, things were stolen off of my porch twice, and every one of my neighbors had their homes broken into as well--and we all had security systems. For my neighbors who were all born and raised in Memphis, it was just a fact of life there. But for me, it was just too much to handle so I left and moved to Knoxville where people in my neighborhood don't even lock their doors. Knoxville doesn't have the incredible urban atmosphere of Memphis nor the incredible Memphis restaurant and live music scene, but at least I don't have to worry about my home being burglarized.

[JMSTiger]

Originally Posted by JMT

The U of M does have a low crime rate considering where it's located, although UT-Martin claims to have the lowest crime rate among Tennessee's 4-year universities, and I'd be more inclined to believe that. But I did see an article in the U of M paper saying the U of M has the lowest crime rate among universities in Memphis.

Anyway, I lived in the neighborhood around the U of M, about 3 blocks south of campus. In 18 months my home was broken into 4 times, my car was broken into twice, a window knocked out, and then finally stolen, things were stolen off of my porch twice, and every one of my neighbors had their homes broken into as well--and we all had security systems. For my neighbors who were all born and raised in Memphis, it was just a fact of life there. But for me, it was just too much to handle so I left and moved to Knoxville where people in my neighborhood don't even lock their doors. Knoxville doesn't have the incredible urban atmosphere of Memphis nor the incredible Memphis restaurant and live music scene, but at least I don't have to worry about my home being burglarized.

It sounds like you had a hell of a time. I take it you lived in the Normal Station neighborhood which is south of the University. As you are well aware, the closer you live to Park Ave, the more likely you are to experience crimes.

I live to the northwest of the campus, just west of Poplar Plaza. I am the president of the Poplar-Highland Community Association and I keep very close watch on crime statistics in our area. In our area, we have almost no violent crimes, but we do have property crimes. In this part of town there is just no way escaping that reality. With very poor sections of the city so nearby (Binghampton, Orange Mound, West Buntyn) we are going to have elevated chances of criminal activity in our area. All I can relate to people is this- I have lived on Century Street in the heart of Memphis since the summer of 2001. I have never been a victim of a crime of any kind. No one has broken into my house. No one has broken into my truck. No one has stolen anything from my yard. Nothing. But, on my street there is probably an average of one break-in a month. It is just life in the big city.