Washington is a state with a lot of different scenery, cultures, and ways of life. It has some of the most beautiful natural scenery, liveliest cities, and most cutting-edge businesses in the country. But some of the most dangerous towns in the country in terms of violent crime and murder rates are in this state.
The FBI just released new data that shows the average rate of serious crime in the United States is 366.7 per 100,000 people and the average rate of property crime is 178.6 per 100,000 people. We will talk about one of the Washington towns that has been called the state’s murder capital because of how many murders happen there per 1,000 people.
The most murders happen in Spokane, Washington
With a population of 220,432, Spokane is the second-biggest city in Washington. It is near the border with Idaho in the eastern part of the state. Spokane is known for its long past, wide range of cultures, and many outdoor activities. That being said, it is known for having a lot of crime, especially murder and theft.
An FBI report from 2023 says that for every 100,000 people in Spokane, there were 381 serious crimes and 3846.2 property crimes. This is one of the highest rates in the state and a lot higher than the national average. Spokane also had the highest death rate in Washington, at 2.3 per 100,000 people. Although Spokane wasn’t the state’s biggest city, it had more murders than any other place.
What leads to Spokane’s high crime rates and what effects do they have?
Many things, like poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, gang activity, and a lack of social services, make Spokane a dangerous place to live. A local news source says that violent crime and murders have gone up in the last two years. This is partly because of policies that were put in place during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that made it easier for criminals to get out of jail with little or no bail. Local police are having a harder time doing their jobs because of these new rules. This has led to more repeat criminals and more victims.
Living in Spokane is unsafe, and the business and quality of life are all hurt by the high crime rate. A lot of people, both locals and tourists, feel scared and dangerous in some places, especially at night. An awful lot of companies and properties are broken into, stolen from, or damaged. Spokane has a bad image for being a dangerous city, which keeps many potential investors and tourists away. All of these things slow Spokane’s growth and development, keeping it from meeting its full potential.
What are some things that could be done to make Spokane safer?
Criminal activity in Spokane can’t be stopped quickly or easily. It takes a coordinated effort from many groups, including the government, the police, the courts, the community, and the media. The following are some of the possible methods that have been put forward or used:
- Giving the police department more money and tools so they can hire more officers, get better equipment, and improve their training and accountability.
- Changing the rules about bail and sentencing will help make sure that violent and repeat criminals are held responsible and discouraged from committing more crimes.
- Increasing the number of social and mental health services to better help and support those who are weak and disadvantaged, like the poor, addicts, mentally ill, and victims of domestic violence and abuse.
- To build trust and agreement between the police and the public, and to get more people to report and stop crime, the community needs to be more involved and engaged.
- spreading the good and helpful things about Spokane to counter the bad and sensationalized news about the city and to show off its successes and opportunities.
In conclusion
Spokane is a place with lots of chances and problems. Because there are so many murders there per person, it has been called the murder city of Washington. But the city also has a lot of strengths and opportunities, like its long past, wide range of cultures, and many outdoor activities. Spokane can fix its problems and become a safer and wealthier city by tackling the causes and effects of crime and putting in place quick and long-lasting answers.