Based on FBI crime statistics in2020, California is the 12th most dangerous state in the United States. This is an increase from 15th in 2019.
The FBI data takes into account violent crimes and property crimes in California cities with a population of 5,000. There are 415 cities in California that have a population in excess of 5,000.
So with that background, let's see the three cities of those 415 that top the crime list and are the three most dangerous cities in California.
1. Emeryville
Emeryville is located in northwest Alameda County, California. It lies between the cities of Berkley and Oakland. It is also home to Pixar Studios.
But the home of great animated movies also holds the title of the number one most dangerous city in California. Emeryville has the highest violent crime rate in California.
The statistics:
- 1,429 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- Residents have a 1 in 70 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.
- The violent crime rate in Emeryville is 272 percent higher than the United States average.
- The property crime rate in Emeryville is 16,763 property crimes per 100,000 people.
- Residents of Emeryville have a 1 in 6 chance of becoming a victim of property crime.
The person responsible for trying to reduce crime is Emeryville police chief Jeffrey Jennings who commenced the role in January. He acknowledged the challenge he faced saying:
“I am just very proud to be here. I’m very excited about the future. We have some trying times coming out of COVID. It’s going to be a very exciting, but precarious, 2021 to 2022. I look forward to that challenge. I started in 1992, and things have changed tremendously in nearly 30 years.” Jeffrey Jennings
2. Oakland
Oakland, California, ranks as the second most dangerous city. Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region and the eighth-most populated city in California
The statistics:
- 1,274 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- The violent crime rate in Oakland is 235 percent higher than the United States average.
- The property crime rate in Oakland is 5,390 property crimes per 100,000 people.
- Residents of Oakland have a 1 in 18 chance of becoming a victim of property crime.
LeRonne Armstrong was sworn in as the new Oakland police chief in February this year. He takes on the job amidst rising crime and heavy budget cuts.
It's "toughest job in the country." LeRonne Armstrong on his challenge as Oakland police chief
Tolleson City Manager Reyes Medrano Jr. said Mendoza “is more than prepared to meet the challenge.”
3. Commerce
Coming in thirds on the list of most dangerous cities in California is Commerce. It is located just south of Los Angeles in Southern California.
The statistics:
- 999 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- The property crime rate in Commerce is double the United States average.
- The property crime rate in Commerce is 7,784 property crimes per 100,000 people.
- Residents of Commerce have a 1 in 11 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.
Following a number of embarrassing arrests of officers within the department in 2016, Commerce City asked the federal investigators for a review of its police agency. While the DOJ initially agreed to commence a review a few months after the announcement Attorney General at the time Jeff Sessions directed the office not to issue any investigative reports.
They gathered up quite a bit of information and then they went back to [Washington, D.C.] to prepare a report for us over what all of those different entities had to talk about. They ultimately came back out and they informed us that, you know, sorry for the mishap but all the information we collected, you’re not going to receive from the Department of Justice " Commerce City Police Chief Clint Nichols
The rest of the top ten are
- Red Bluff
- Signal Hill
- San Bernadino
- West Hollywood
- Stockton
- Marysville
- Barstow
What can be done to reduce the chance of being a victim?
If you want to make yourself safer and help reduce your chance of being a victim of crime, there are resources available.
The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice looked at violent crime in 34 cities. and made three key recommendation in its report to reduce crime
1. Beat the COVID-19 outbreak quickly as it causes social and economic strife that increase crime
2. Restore community trust in police and the justice system, following protests across 2020 over police misconduct.
3. Implement programs that have been proven to reduce crime in urban areas.
Let us all hope that crime can be reduced not only in the three cities above but across California and the United States.
What do you think? Any surprises on this list? And what else can the police do to curb the increasing crime rate?