City of Detroit: Violence Overview
Crime in Detroit, Michigan has decreased in many categories since the 1970s. In 2016, Detroit had its lowest number of criminal homicides in 40 years, and as of 2015, Detroit has the second highest murder rate in the United States. St. Louis now has the highest murder rate at 49.9 murders per 100,000, compared to Detroit's 43.5. The percentage of murders committed with a gun is high in Detroit and this changes the overall crime rate in Detroit making it seem more dangerous than it really is. 82 percent of homicides in Wayne County, Michigan, which also includes Detroit, were committed with firearms between 2008 and 2013. In the United States as a whole in 2011, 67.6 percent of homicides involved a firearm. This leads to an inflated violent crime rate as most violent crimes do not involve guns.
The Detroit Police Department's Crime Analysis Unit reported that crimes have dropped by 24 percent since the introduction of casino gaming to the city of Detroit. The number of homicides peaked in 1974 at 714 and again in 1991 with 615. But by the end of 2010, the homicide count fell to 308 for the year with an estimated population of just a bit over 900,000, the lowest count and rate since 1967. By 2012 the murder count had rebounded to 411, with 386 which might have been criminal homicides. Detroit officials said that about 65 to 70 percent of homicides in the city were confined to a narcotics catalyst. In 2013 Detroit's number of criminal homicides was 333, a decrease of 14 percent compared to 2012. Though, taken in perspective by population, Detroit remains as a city with one of the highest rates per capita for homicide in the United States.
Crime in Detroit, Michigan has decreased in many categories since the 1970s. In 2016, Detroit had its lowest number of criminal homicides in 40 years, and as of 2015, Detroit has the second highest murder rate in the United States. St. Louis now has the highest murder rate at 49.9 murders per 100,000, compared to Detroit's 43.5. The percentage of murders committed with a gun is high in Detroit and this changes the overall crime rate in Detroit making it seem more dangerous than it really is. 82 percent of homicides in Wayne County, Michigan, which also includes Detroit, were committed with firearms between 2008 and 2013. In the United States as a whole in 2011, 67.6 percent of homicides involved a firearm. This leads to an inflated violent crime rate as most violent crimes do not involve guns.
The Detroit Police Department's Crime Analysis Unit reported that crimes have dropped by 24 percent since the introduction of casino gaming to the city of Detroit. The number of homicides peaked in 1974 at 714 and again in 1991 with 615. But by the end of 2010, the homicide count fell to 308 for the year with an estimated population of just a bit over 900,000, the lowest count and rate since 1967. By 2012 the murder count had rebounded to 411, with 386 which might have been criminal homicides. Detroit officials said that about 65 to 70 percent of homicides in the city were confined to a narcotics catalyst. In 2013 Detroit's number of criminal homicides was 333, a decrease of 14 percent compared to 2012. Though, taken in perspective by population, Detroit remains as a city with one of the highest rates per capita for homicide in the United States.
Most Dangerous City, Detroit Can’t Shake off the #1 Spot:
Although Detroit’s crime statistics, like its finances, appear to be headed in the right direction, the Motor City once again tops Forbes' list of America's Most Dangerous Cities. There were 298 murders and intentional homicides in Detroit in 2014, the lowest number in 47 years, according to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Detroit Police Department. That works out to a murder rate of 43.5 per 100,000 residents, which is still almost 10 times the national average. The city’s overall rate of violent crime, including assault and robbery, was 1,989 per 100,000 residents, down from over 2,000 in 2013 but still more than five times the national average, which also has been falling for years. Now Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was elected in 2013 and reclaimed full control over the city's operations when it emerged from bankruptcy last December, is going high-tech, urging businesses to install video cameras to give police a better picture of violent crimes and who’s committing them. But murder rates don’t lie, and Detroit’s murder rate has remained stubbornly high for decades even as the cities immediately around it remain tranquil. |
Murders (per 100,000)
402(41.8) 2002 366(39.4) 385(42.1) 354(39.3) 418(47.3) 394(45.8) 306(33.8) 365(40.2) 310(34.5) 344(48.2) 386(54.6) 316(45.2) 298(43.5) 2014 |
Rapes (per 100,000)
708(73.6) 2002 814(87.7) 719(78.6) 589(65.4) 593(67.0) 341(39.6) 330(36.4) 335(36.9) 405(45.0) 427(59.9) 441(62.4) 618(88.3) 557(81.4) 2014 |
Assaults (per 100,000)
12,542(1,303.8) 2002 11,727(1,264.0) 9,358(1,023.5) 13,477(1,495.9) 13,143(1,486.0) 12,398(1,440.0) 10,677(1,178.8) 11,255(1,238.9) 10,723(1,192.2) 9,512(1,333.6) 9,341(1,321.0) 8,796(1,256.8) 9,191(1,342.4) 2014 |
Robberies (per 100,000)
6,288(653.6) 2002 5,817(627.0) 5,451(596.2) 6,820(757.0) 7,240(818.6) 6,575(763.7) 6,115(675.1) 5,913(650.9) 5,538(615.7) 4,962(695.7) 4,843(684.9) 4,774(682.1) 3,570(521.4) 2014 |
Rise and Ruin of Violence: Gangs
Violence of Detroit has had a huge rise in the 1970 to the early 2000s. The greatest cause of violence is due to wanting control over a larger area of drug trade. Every gang wanted to be at the top of Detroit, more specifically, the east side of Detroit. The most ruthless gangs will be introduced as you begin to read further more into the history of the blood bath that became to be known as the drug trade in Detroit.
Gangs:
- The Best Friends
- Chambers Brothers
- Black Mafia Family (B.M.F.)
- Y.B.I. (Young Boys Incorporated)
- Errol Flynns