MA’s Most Violent Cities and Towns: New FBI Crime Data
Email to a friend
Permalink
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Reporter
From to 2013 to 2014, the number of reported rapes in Worcester dropped 31 percent (22 in 2013 compared to seven in 2014). The city of Fitchburg, with a population nearly five times less than Worcester, reported 31 incidents of rape.
In 2014, the city of Worcester witnessed 1,762 violent crimes and 5,604 property crimes - a significant decrease from 6,239 property crimes in 2013. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Worcester also saw decreases in murders and robberies.
The FBI released its 2014 crime statistics this week, breaking down data on a state by state - and community - basis. The information reported includes violent crimes such as murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
Former Superintendent of Massachusetts State Police Tom Foley, of Worcester, 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."
Of the top 50 most violent cities and towns in Massachusetts in 2014, eight belonged to Worcester County.
SEE SLIDES: #50 to #1- MA Most Violent Cities and Towns
Across the country, FBI data reveals that the estimated number of violent crimes decreased 0.2 percent when compared with 2013 figures. There were an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes in the United States reported to law enforcement last year.
A total of 18,498 city, county, state, university and college, tribal, and federal agencies participated in the Uniform Crme Reporting (UCR) Program in 2014.
Massachusetts and Worcester County in 2014
In Massachusetts, there were 26,399 violent crimes reported to law enforcement - up slightly from 2013’s total of 25,789.
The number of property crimes went down substantially from 129,599 in 2013 to 125,267 in 2014.
In Worcester County, the number of violent crimes reported was 3,576. Of those violent crimes, there were 2,727 cases of aggravated assault, 629 robberies, 212 forcible rapes, and 8 total cases of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.
Robberies, forcible rapes and murder and nonnegligent manslaughter totals are all down significantly from 2013.
Based on violent crimes per capita, there were eight 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 9.61 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, followed by Fitchburg (8.14) , Gardner (7.37), Leominster (6.55), Webster (4.8), Barre (4.01), Southbridge (3.67), and Dudley (3.53).
Winchendon and Marlborough finished just outside the most violent 50 cities and towns at #51 and #52 respectively.
Not Every Town or City Reporting
"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."
Of those towns missing from Worcester County are Brookfield, North Brookfield, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Oakham and New Braintree.
In 2013, North Brookfield had the third-highest violent crime rate in Worcester County.
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.'"
New Data Reported
FBI Director James Comey said in the report release that the UCR plans to begin collecting data about non-fatal shootings between law enforcement and civilians, and encouraged all law enforcement agencies to submit their data about fatal shootings and justifiable homicide data, which is currently collected.
"Once the FBI begins collecting the expanded data, UCR plans to add a special publication that will focus on law enforcement’s use of force in shooting incidents. That report will outline facts about what happened, who was involved, whether there were injuries or deaths, and the circumstances surrounding the incidents," said the FBI in their release
Explains Comey, “We hope this information will become part of a balanced dialogue in communities and in the media—a dialogue that will help to dispel misperceptions, foster accountability, and promote transparency in how law enforcement personnel relate to the communities they serve."
Related Slideshow: #50 to #1: MA’s Most Violent Cities and Towns in 2014
Prev
Next
#50 Ayer
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.52
2014 Violent Crimes: 28
2014 Population: 7,938
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 22
Prev
Next
#49 Monson
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.53
2014 Violent Crimes: 31
2014 Population: 8,762
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 22
Prev
Next
#48 Dudley
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.54
2014 Violent Crimes: 41
2014 Population: 11,562
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 22
Prev
Next
#47 Ware
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.55
2014 Violent Crimes: 35
2014 Population: 9,838
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 4
Robbery: 6
Aggravated Assaults: 25
Prev
Next
#46 Falmouth
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.55
2014 Violent Crimes: 113
2014 Population: 31,760
Murder: 2
Forcible Rape: 9
Robbery: 13
Aggravated Assaults: 89
Prev
Next
#45 Whitman
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.58
2014 Violent Crimes: 53
2014 Population:14,789
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 6
Aggravated Assaults: 37
Prev
Next
#44 Great Barrington
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.58
2014 Violent Crimes: 25
2014 Population: 6,971
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 26
Aggravated Assaults: 120
Prev
Next
#43 Salem
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.59
2014 Violent Crimes:154
2014 Population: 42,847
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 26
Aggravated Assaults: 120
Prev
Next
#42 Malden
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.59
2014 Violent Crimes: 219
2014 Population: 60,925
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 63
Aggravated Assaults: 148
Prev
Next
#41 Adams
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.61
2014 Violent Crimes: 30
2014 Population: 8,296
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 22
Prev
Next
#40 Southbridge
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.67
2014 Violent Crimes: 62
2014 Population: 16,858
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 11
Robbery: 11
Aggravated Assaults: 40
Prev
Next
#39 Taunton
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.69
2014 Violent Crimes: 208
2014 Population: 56,277
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 15
Robbery: 47
Aggravated Assaults: 146
Prev
Next
#38 Palmer
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.7
2014 Violent Crimes: 45
2014 Population: 12,161
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 31
Prev
Next
#37 Deerfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.74
2014 Violent Crimes: 19
2014 Population: 5,080
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 15
Robbery: 47
Aggravated Assaults: 146
Prev
Next
#36 Chicopee
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.81
2014 Violent Crimes: 213
2014 Population: 55,831
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 30
Robbery: 59
Aggravated Assaults: 124
Prev
Next
#35 Athol
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.94
2014 Violent Crimes: 46
2014 Population: 11,655
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 5
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 38
Prev
Next
#34 Truro
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.96
2014 Violent Crimes: 8
2014 Population: 2,019
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 6
Prev
Next
#33 Everett
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 3.96
2014 Violent Crimes: 172
2014 Population: 43,368
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 67
Aggravated Assaults: 95
Prev
Next
#32 Barre
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.01
2014 Violent Crimes: 22
2014 Population: 5,473
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 3
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assaults: 18
Prev
Next
#31 Fairhaven
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.02
2014 Violent Crimes: 65
2014 Population: 16,157
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 49
Prev
Next
#30 Quincy
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.16
2014 Violent Crimes: 392
2014 Population: 94,035
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 35
Robbery: 72
Aggravated Assaults: 285
Prev
Next
#29 West Springfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.31
2014 Violent Crimes: 124
2014 Population: 28,767
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 14
Robbery: 28
Aggravated Assaults: 82
Prev
Next
#28 Salisbury
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.37
2014 Violent Crimes: 38
2014 Population: 8,676
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 8
Robbery: 2
Aggravated Assaults: 28
Prev
Next
#27 Pittsfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.41
2014 Violent Crimes: 194
2014 Population: 43,895
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 35
Robbery: 30
Aggravated Assaults: 129
Prev
Next
#26 Northhampton
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.63
2014 Violent Crimes: 132
2014 Population: 28,465
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 20
Robbery: 19
Aggravated Assaults: 93
Prev
Next
#25 Dennis
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.68
2014 Violent Crimes: 66
2014 Population: 14,074
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 4
Aggravated Assaults: 52
Prev
Next
#24 Hadley
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.73
2014 Violent Crimes: 25
2014 Population: 5,277
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 5
Robbery: 3
Aggravated Assaults: 17
Prev
Next
#23 Webster
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 4.80
2014 Violent Crimes: 81
2014 Population: 16,869
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 8
Aggravated Assaults: 63
Prev
Next
#22 Wareham
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.04
2014 Violent Crimes: 114
2014 Population: 22,585
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 13
Robbery: 9
Aggravated Assaults: 92
Prev
Next
#21 Lowell
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.44
2014 Violent Crimes: 598
2014 Population: 109,729
Murder: 6
Forcible Rape: 40
Robbery: 181
Aggravated Assaults: 371
Prev
Next
#20 Revere
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.56
2014 Violent Crimes: 303
2014 Population: 54,402
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 30
Robbery: 62
Aggravated Assaults: 211
Prev
Next
#19 North Adams
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 5.56
2014 Violent Crimes: 75
2014 Population: 13,471
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 6
Robbery: 7
Aggravated Assaults: 62
Prev
Next
#18 Barnstable
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 6.24
2014 Violent Crimes: 279
2014 Population: 44,642
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 28
Aggravated Assaults: 232
Prev
Next
#17 Leominster
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 6.55
2014 Violent Crimes: 270
2014 Population: 41,179
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 18
Robbery: 45
Aggravated Assaults: 207
Prev
Next
#16 Montague
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 6.57
2014 Violent Crimes: 55
2014 Population: 8,365
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 3
Robbery: 9
Aggravated Assaults: 43
Prev
Next
#15 Haverhill
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 6.97
2014 Violent Crimes: 436
2014 Population: 62,552
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 19
Robbery: 60
Aggravated Assaults: 357
Prev
Next
#14 Boston
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 7.25
2014 Violent Crimes: 4,749
2014 Population: 654,413
Murder: 53
Forcible Rape: 280
Robbery: 1,680
Aggravated Assaults: 2,736
Prev
Next
#13 Gardner
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 7.37
2014 Violent Crimes: 151
2014 Population: 20,462
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 11
Robbery: 15
Aggravated Assaults: 125
Prev
Next
#12 Lynn
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 7.77
2014 Violent Crimes: 716
2014 Population: 92,131
Murder: 5
Forcible Rape: 24
Robbery: 162
Aggravated Assaults: 525
Prev
Next
#11 Provincetown
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 8.05
2014 Violent Crimes: 24
2014 Population: 2,980
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 2
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assaults: 22
Prev
Next
#10 Fitchburg
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 8.14
2014 Violent Crimes: 330
2014 Population: 40,492
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 31
Robbery: 65
Aggravated Assaults: 234
Prev
Next
#9 Yarmouth
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 8.36
2014 Violent Crimes: 198
2014 Population: 23,683
Murder: 0
Forcible Rape: 10
Robbery: 11
Aggravated Assaults: 111
Prev
Next
#8 Worcester
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 9.61
2014 Violent Crimes: 1,762
2014 Population: 183,248
Murder: 6
Forcible Rape: 7
Robbery: 402
Aggravated Assaults: 1,347
Prev
Next
#7 Holyoke
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 9.66
2014 Violent Crimes: 390
2014 Population: 40,336
Murder: 3
Forcible Rape: 31
Robbery: 99
Aggravated Assaults: 257
Prev
Next
#6 Brockton
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 10.5
2014 Violent Crimes: 992
2014 Population: 94,427
Murder: 12
Forcible Rape: 64
Robbery: 192
Aggravated Assaults: 724
Prev
Next
#5 Springfield
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 10.8
2014 Violent Crimes: 1,662
2014 Population: 153,766
Murder: 13
Forcible Rape: 94
Robbery: 583
Aggravated Assaults: 972
Prev
Next
#4 Lawrence
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 10.9
2014 Violent Crimes: 855
2014 Population: 78,169
Murder: 6
Forcible Rape: 26
Robbery: 324
Aggravated Assaults: 499
Prev
Next
#3 Chelsea
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 11.12
2014 Violent Crimes: 427
2014 Population: 38,396
Murder: 4
Forcible Rape: 21
Robbery: 171
Aggravated Assaults: 231
Prev
Next
#2 Fall River
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 11.6
2014 Violent Crimes: 1,036
2014 Population: 88,915
Murder: 1
Forcible Rape: 80
Robbery: 221
Aggravated Assaults: 734
Prev
Next
#1 New Bedford
Violent Crime Per 1000 residents: 12.6
2014 Violent Crimes: 1,199
2014 Population: 95,366
Murder: 3
Forcible Rape: 86
Robbery: 254
Aggravated Assaults: 856
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