Maryland Crime Lowest In History
It seems like Maryland's crime rate is at an all time low. The percentage has recently decreased 6.3 percent from last year, reaching a new low in the state's per-capita incidence of violent and property offenses and mirroring a national trend. The figures released by state officials and reported to the FBI are the lowest since modern crime tracking began in 1975. That continues a trend of the area notching record lows for most of the past 14 years, as Maryland has remained one of the most violent cities to this point.
Local officials believe a combination of technological advances and information-sharing, within departments and across jurisdictional lines is also helping to deter crime.
In 2010 the state's violent crime rate dropped 7.2 percent, while property crime declined 6.1 percent, according to data compiled by the Maryland State Police from jurisdictions statewide.
The FBI reported earlier this year that violent crime had fallen by an estimated 5.5 percent nationwide between 2009 and 2010, while property crime fell 2.8 percent.
Driven largely by a decline in property crimes, which are the most plentiful, the state's drop in crime has been dramatic. The state's crime rate was 3,549 crimes per 100,000 people last year. That compares with 4,838 per 100,000 people in 2000, 5,830 in 1990, and 6,627 in 1980.
Maryland has long been among the most violent states in the country, despite its ranking as one of the wealthiest. That's likely explained by the wide gulf between richer and poor residents, according to officials, who says income inequality is a reliable predictor of crime.
This economic downturn has not been associated with a crime increase, according to officials, noting that this is the first time there's been a disconnect since the Depression in Maryland. Home security however has seen a sharp increase in the area along with wireless security systems for businesses.
Officials acknowledge that the public is skeptical about such drastic drops in crime statistics. A spokesman for the governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention noted that the trend is not limited to Maryland and likely stems from a variety of factors.
Crime began rising in the late 1980s and early 1990s amid the crack cocaine epidemic. Since then, crime in Maryland has dropped, in many categories to below the pre spike levels. Baltimore, for example, now boasts of an overall crime rate that is 27 percent lower than in 1975.
Local officials believe a combination of technological advances and information-sharing, within departments and across jurisdictional lines is also helping to deter crime.
In 2010 the state's violent crime rate dropped 7.2 percent, while property crime declined 6.1 percent, according to data compiled by the Maryland State Police from jurisdictions statewide.
The FBI reported earlier this year that violent crime had fallen by an estimated 5.5 percent nationwide between 2009 and 2010, while property crime fell 2.8 percent.
Driven largely by a decline in property crimes, which are the most plentiful, the state's drop in crime has been dramatic. The state's crime rate was 3,549 crimes per 100,000 people last year. That compares with 4,838 per 100,000 people in 2000, 5,830 in 1990, and 6,627 in 1980.
Maryland has long been among the most violent states in the country, despite its ranking as one of the wealthiest. That's likely explained by the wide gulf between richer and poor residents, according to officials, who says income inequality is a reliable predictor of crime.
This economic downturn has not been associated with a crime increase, according to officials, noting that this is the first time there's been a disconnect since the Depression in Maryland. Home security however has seen a sharp increase in the area along with wireless security systems for businesses.
Officials acknowledge that the public is skeptical about such drastic drops in crime statistics. A spokesman for the governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention noted that the trend is not limited to Maryland and likely stems from a variety of factors.
Crime began rising in the late 1980s and early 1990s amid the crack cocaine epidemic. Since then, crime in Maryland has dropped, in many categories to below the pre spike levels. Baltimore, for example, now boasts of an overall crime rate that is 27 percent lower than in 1975.
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