MA’s Most Violent Cities and Towns: New FBI Crime Data
Email to a friend
Permalink
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
released its 2013 crime statistics this week, breaking down data on a state by state -- and community - basis. Nationally in 2013, every crime category saw decreases. The information reported includes violent crimes such as murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
Of the top 50 most violent cities and towns in Massachusetts, nine belonged to Worcester County.
Tom Foley of Worcester, the former Superintendent of Massachusetts State Police, said "We look at these numbers to see how things are trending. It's hard to look at those stats in a vacuum. There are certain events that go on and in comparison to what's going on in the rest of the country, police chiefs can see how their towns measure up. In Massachusetts, the police chiefs know what's going on in their communities."
Across the country, FBI data reveals that the estimated number of violent crimes decreased 4.4 percent when compared with 2012 figures. There were an estimated 1,163,146 violent crimes in the United States reported to law enforcement last year.
Massachusetts and Worcester County
In Massachusetts, there were 25,789 violent crimes reported to law enforcement. Throughout the state, the number of property crimes totaled 129,599.
In Worcester County, the number of violent crimes reported was 3,461. Of those violent crimes, there were 2,540 cases of aggravated assault, 666 robberies, 242 forcible rapes, and 13 total cases of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.
Based on violent crimes per capita, there were nine cities and towns from Worcester County that rated in the 50 most violent in the state. The city of Worcester was the most violent with a rate of 9.53 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, followed by Fitchburg (7.58) , North Brookfield (7.24), Webster (7.23), Leominster (6.38), Southbridge (4.86), Winchendon (4.76), Barre (4.73) and Gardner (4.57).
Worcester's Crime Rates and Police Response
GoLocal Worcester spoke with Dr.Stephen Morreale, the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at Worcester State University and a retired DEA officer, about what these statistics mean for Central Massachusetts. Dr.Morreale said the WSU Criminal Justice Department uses these statistics "all of the time for comparison between what's being measured and what isn't. We are always talking about what these numbers mean and are these numbers really a good indicator of crime."
In the city of Worcester, there were 1,750 violent crimes and 6,239 property crimes. "When I compared 2013 to the statistics from 2012, there's not that dramatic of a change at all. Overall, I'm not so sure that Worcester is an un-safe city. It's not some place that I feel a threat," said Morreale.
In Worcester, Dr. Morreale thinks that technology such as the Real-Time Crime Center, a city-wide surveillance system which records potential crime scenes, and ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, have helped the WPD react quicker to criminal activity. "They're out there. They're trying to do what they can do. A lot of activity happens in the middle of the night, but you can't be everywhere," said Morreale.
Fitchburg and Leominster Have Serious Sexual Assault Problem
2013 is the first year that the FBI's report is using the Uniform Crime Reporting's revised definition of rape.
Of the 242 cases of forcible rape in Worcester County, the city of Fitchburg, with a population of just over 40,000, has a startlingly high amount of rape cases. With 33 cases, Fitchburg has the most serious concern, compared to Worcester with 22 cases and a population more than four times of Fitchburg. Just behind Fitchburg, is it's neighbor city of Leominster with 25 forcible rape reports.
Between the twin cities, Leominster and Fitchburg represent nearly 25% of the forcible rape reports in Worcester County.
"The big question is what's reportable and what isn't. That's a surprising number. I don't know if its a socioeconomic indicator or what the problem is, but it's a shame that there's that much of a socioeconomic difference between Fitchburg and Worcester," said Morreale.
According to Foley,"that number is significant. That seems out of whack, but they do have some tough areas."
Some Worcester County Towns Missing from Report
Foley said, "What the Feds try to do is get you to make sure you submit your stats. A lot of times that's tied into any kind of federal funding your town might be getting. There's a lot of towns that don't submit their stats for a number of reasons including the town is too small and they don't have the money to do a report, or the police chief looks at the numbers and says 'these aren't going to make me look good.'"
Of those towns missing from Worcester County are Boylston, Brookfield, West Brookfield, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Oakham and New Braintree.
"Anybody that's in the business knows that there's a big grey area there. The grey area consists of stats not being submitted and the good stats being submitted. Any kind of chief can sit down and look at it and say 'Okay, this is why we have spike here, or drop there.'", said Foley. "Crime runs beside what your budget looks like. If your budget is getting cut, and police officers are off the street, your programs aren't being performed anymore, then you see crime going up."
Related Slideshow: Most Violent Cities and Towns in MA According to the FBI
Prev
Next
50. Holbrook
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.559
2013 Violent Crimes: 39
2013 Population: 10,959
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 11
Aggravated Assaults: 28
Interesting fact from the data: 9 Motor Vehicle thefts in the year
Prev
Next
49. Whitman
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.61
2013 Violent Crimes: 53
2013 Population: 14,682
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 42
Interesting fact from the data: 1 incident of Arson in the last year
Prev
Next
48. Taunton
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.715
2013 Violent Crimes: 209
2013 Population: 56,264
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 15
Robbery: 52
Aggravated Assaults: 142
Interesting fact from the data: In the last year, there were 962 reported incidents of property crimes In Taunton
Prev
Next
47. Oak Bluffs
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.847
2013 Violent Crimes: 18
2013 Population: 4,679
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 18
Interesting fact from the data: 107 reported incidencts of Larceny in the last year
Prev
Next
46. Quincy
Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 3.861
2013 Viiolent Crimes: 361
2013 Population: 93,490
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 35
Robbery: 87
Aggravated Assaults: 239
Interesting fact from the data: In the last year there wre 4 incidents of arson
Prev
Next
45. Marlborough
Violent Crime Per 100 Residents: 3.946
2013 Violent Crimes: 156
2013 Population: 39, 531
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 18
Robbery: 17
Aggravated Assaults: 121
Interesting fact from the data: In the last year there were 605 reported incidents of Larceny-theft
Prev
Next
44.Nantucket
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.951
2013 Violent Crimes: 41
2013 Population: 10,378
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 30
Interesting fact from the data: 330 reported incidents of property crime in the year
Prev
Next
43. Whately
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 3.974
2013 Violent Crimes: 6
2013 Population: 1,510
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 6
Interesting fact from the data: There were 0 incidents of Arson in 2013
Prev
Next
42. Fairhaven
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.012
2013 Violent Crimes: 64
2013 Population: 15,951
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 5
Aggravated Assaults: 51
Interesting fact from the data: There were 364 reported incidents of property crime in the last year.
Prev
Next
41. Hull
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.065
2013 Violent Crimes: 42
2013 Population: 10,331
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 5
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 36
Interesting fact from the data: There were 2 incidents of arson in 2013
Prev
Next
40. Ware
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.261
2013 Violent Crimes: 42
2013 Population: 9,856
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 37
Interesting fact from the data: There were 198 reported incidents of larceny-theft in the last year
Prev
Next
39. Great Barrington
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.303
2013 Violent Crimes: 30
2013 Population: 6,972
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 21
Interesting fact from the data: In 2013, there were 124 reported incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
38. Athol
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.542
2013 Violent Crimes: 53
2013 Population: 11,668
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 43
Interesting fact from the data: There were 55 incidents of Burglary in the last year
Prev
Next
37. Northampton
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.548
2013 Violent Crimes: 130
2013 Population: 28,581
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 29
Robbery: 14
Aggravated Assaults: 87
Interesting fact from the data: There were 647 reported incidents of larceny-theft in the last year.
Prev
Next
36. Gardner
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.572
2013 Violent Crimes: 93
2013 Population: 20,341
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 13
Robbery: 10
Aggravated Assaults: 70
Interesting fact from the data: There were 190 incidents of burglary in 2013
Prev
Next
35. Bourne
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.579
2013 Violent Crimes: 91
2013 Population: 19,875
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 14
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 69
Interesting fact from the data: There were 465 incidents of property crime in the last year
Prev
Next
34. Everett
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.701
2013 Violent Crimes: 202
2013 Population: 42,966
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 61
Aggravated Assaults:121
Interesting fact from the data: In the last year, there were 898 reported incidents of property crime
Prev
Next
33. Tewksbury
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.707
2013 Violent Crimes: 141
2013 Population: 29,953
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 14
Robbery: 9
Aggravated Assaults: 118
Interesting fact from the data: There were 398 incidents of larceny-theft in the last year.
Prev
Next
32. Winchendon
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.739
2013 Violent Crimes: 50
2013 Population: 10, 551
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 2
Aggravated Assaults: 44
Interesting fact from the data: There were 5 incidents of arson in 2013
Prev
Next
31. Barre
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.768
2013 Violent Crimes: 26
2013 Population: 5,453
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 20
Interesting fact from the data: In the past year, there were 3 reported incidents of motor vehicle theft.
Prev
Next
30. Southbridge
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.861
2013 Violent Crimes: 82
2013 Population: 16,870
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 11
Robbery: 14
Aggravated Assaults: 57
Interesting fact from the data: There were 236 reported incidents of larceny-theft in 2013
Prev
Next
29. Chicopee
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 4.895
2013 Violent Crimes: 272
2013 Population: 55,566
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 22
Robbery: 81
Aggravated Assaults: 168
Interesting fact from the data: In the past year, there were 1,563 reported incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
28. Randolph
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.241
2013 Violent Crimes: 176
2013 Population: 33,583
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 16
Robbery: 31
Aggravated Assaults: 129
Interesting fact from the data: There were 536 incidents of property crime reported
Prev
Next
27. Salisbury
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.300
2013 Violent Crimes: 45
2013 Population: 8,490
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 5
Aggravated Assaults: 32
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 113 reported incidents of larceny-theft in 2013
Prev
Next
26. Montague
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents:
2013 Violent Crimes: 45
2013 Population: 8,418
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 38
Interesting Fact from the data:There were 222 incidents of property crime reported.
Prev
Next
25. Dennis
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.645
2013 Violent Crimes: 80
2013 Population: 14,173
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 13
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 59
Interesting Fact from the data: In the past year, there ere 211 incidents of burglary reported.
Prev
Next
24. West Springfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.690
2013 Violent Crimes: 163
2013 Population: 28, 647
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 22
Robbery: 40
Aggravated Assaults: 101
Interesting Fact from the data: In the past year there have been 1,321 incidents of property crime
Prev
Next
23. Provincetown
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.699
2013 Violent Crimes: 17
2013 Population: 2,983
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape:1
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 16
Interesting Fact from the data:There were 85 incidents of larceny-theft in 2013
Prev
Next
22. Lowell
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.710
2013 Violent Crimes: 625
2013 Population: 109,449
Murder: 4
Forcible Rape: 40
Robbery: 192
Aggravated Assaults: 389
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 3,379 reported incidents of property Crime in 2013
Prev
Next
21. Revere
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 5.895
2013 Violent Crimes: 317
2013 Population: 53,777
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 82
Aggravated Assaults: 216
Interesting Fact from the data: In the last year, there were 813 reported incidents of larceny-theft.
Prev
Next
20. Leominster
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 6.387
2013 Violent Crimes: 263
2013 Population: 41,175
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 25
Robbery: 34
Aggravated Assaults: 203
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 1,235 reported incidents of property crime in the last year.
Prev
Next
19. Warren
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 6.398
2013 Violent Crimes: 33
2013 Population: 5,158
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 30
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 4 incidents of motor vehicle theft in 2013
Prev
Next
18. Haverhill
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 6.651
2013 Violent Crimes: 414
2013 Population: 62,249
Murder: 2
Forcible Rape: 25
Robbery: 57
Aggravated Assaults: 330
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 1,618 reported incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
17.Barnstable
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 6.736
2013 Violent Crimes: 302
2013 Population: 44,837
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 18
Robbery: 30
Aggravated Assaults: 254
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 8 incidents of arson in the last year.
Prev
Next
16. Wareham
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 7.223
2013 Violent Crimes: 163
2013 Population: 22,567
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 20
Robbery: 21
Aggravated Assaults:122
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 806 reported incidents of property crime
Prev
Next
15. Webster
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 7.223
2013 Violent Crimes: 122
2013 Population: 16, 871
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 9
Robbery: 21
Aggravated Assaults: 92
Interesting Fact from the data:In 2013, there were 319 incidents of larceny-theft
Prev
Next
14. North Brookfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 7.242
2013 Violent Crimes: 34
2013 Population: 4,695
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 3
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 31
Interesting Fact from the data: In the last year, there were only 2 incidents of motor vehicle theft.
Prev
Next
13. Fitchburg
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 7.576
2013 Violent Crimes: 307
2013 Population: 40,521
Murder: 2
Forcible Rape: 33
Robbery: 35
Aggravated Assaults: 237
Interesting Fact from the data: In the last year, there were 1,060 incidents of property time
Prev
Next
12. Boston
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 7.824
2013 Violent Crimes: 5,037
2013 Population: 643,799
Murder: 39
Forcible Rape: 279
Robbery: 1,868
Aggravated Assaults: 2,851
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 13,147 incidents of larceny-theft in 2013
Prev
Next
11. Yarmouth
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 8.510
2013 Violent Crimes: 202
2013 Population: 23,736
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 17
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 177
Interesting Fact from the data: In the last year, there were 668 incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
10. Lynn
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 8.870
2013 Violent Crimes: 814
2013 Population: 91,769
Murder: 2
Forcible Rape: 39
Robbery: 189
Aggravated Assaults: 584
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 510 reported incidents of burglary in the last year.
Prev
Next
9. Worcester
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 9.539
2013 Violent Crimes:1,750
2013 Population: 183,454
Murder: 9
Forcible Rape: 22
Robbery: 483
Aggravated Assaults:1,236
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 3,924 incidents of Larceny-theft in 2013.
Prev
Next
8. North Adams
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 9.840
2013 Violent Crimes: 133
2013 Population: 13,516
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 21
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 103
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 175 incidents of burglary in 2013
Prev
Next
7. Lawrence
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 9.973
2013 Violent Crimes: 776
2013 Population: 77,812
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 283
Aggravated Assaults: 473
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 2,273 reported incidents of property crime
Prev
Next
6. Holyoke
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 10.419
2013 Violent Crimes: 419
2013 Population: 40,215
Murder: 4
Forcible Rape: 42
Robbery: 108
Aggravated Assaults: 265
Interesting Fact from the data: There were 2,067 incidents of larceny theft in the last year.
Prev
Next
5. Fall River
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 10.581
2013 Violent Crimes: 944
2013 Population: 89,220
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 73
Robbery: 225
Aggravated Assaults: 646
Interesting Fact from the data: In the last year, there were 2,364 reported incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
4. Springfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 10.893
2013 Violent Crimes: 1,673
2013 Population: 153,586
Murder: 22
Forcible Rape: 89
Robbery: 598
Aggravated Assaults: 964
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 7,112 reported incidents of property crime.
Prev
Next
3. New Bedford
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents:10.919
2013 Violent Crimes:1,039
2013 Population: 95,156
Murder: 6
Forcible Rape: 100
Robbery: 256
Aggravated Assaults: 677
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 20 incidents of arson.
Prev
Next
2. Chelsea
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 12.228
2013 Violent Crimes: 458
2013 Population: 37,454
Murder: 5
Forcible Rape: 28
Robbery: 175
Aggravated Assaults: 250
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013 there were 151 reported motor vehicle thefts.
Prev
Next
1. Brockton
Violent Crime Per 1000 Residents: 12.303
2013 Violent Crimes: 1,162
2013 Population: 94,448
Murder: 9
Forcible Rape: 87
Robbery: 228
Aggravated Assaults: 838
Interesting Fact from the data: In 2013, there were 3,189 reported incidents of property crime
Related Articles
Enjoy this post? Share it with others.
Email to a friend
Permalink
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It