 | This article possibly contains original research. (August 2024) |
| Washington, D.C. | |
|---|---|
| Crime rates* (2021) | |
| Violent crimes | |
| Homicide | 32.78 |
| Rape | 25.52 |
| Robbery | 295.85 |
| Aggravated assault | 242.91 |
| Total violent crime | 597.06 |
| Property crimes | |
| Burglary | 169.97 |
| Larceny-theft | 1584.91 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 509.76 |
| Arson | not reported |
| Total property crime | 3523.34 |
Notes *Number of reported crimes per 100,000 population. Source: Metropolitan Police Department Official Crime Stats 2021 | |
Crime in Washington, D.C., is directly related to the city's demographics, geography, and unique criminal justice system. The District's population reached a peak of 802,178 in 1950. Shortly after that, the city began losing residents, and by 1980 Washington had lost one-quarter of its population. The population loss to the suburbs also created a new demographic pattern, which divided affluent neighborhoods west of Rock Creek Park from the less well-off neighborhoods to the east.
Despite being the headquarters of multiple federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the nationwide crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s greatly affected the city and led to large increases in crime.[1] The number of homicides in Washington peaked in 1991 at 482,[2] a rate of 80.6 homicides per 100,000 residents,[3] and the city eventually became known as the "murder capital" of the United States.[4]
The crime rate started to fall in the mid-1990s as the crack cocaine epidemic gave way to economic revitalization projects. Neighborhood improvement efforts and new business investment have also started to transform neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, leading to the first rise in the District's population in 60 years.[5]
By the mid-2000s, crime rates in Washington dropped to their lowest levels in over 20 years, to less than a fifth of record highs. In 2006, in the city's northwestern neighborhoods, which tend to be more affluent and have more entertainment options, experienced a spate of robberies. Jim Graham, a DC City Council member, stated that year that robbery was "always been a major problem. But it wasn't anywhere near as serious as it is today."[6] As of 2011, violent crime also remains a problem in Ward 8, which has the city's highest concentration of poverty.[7]
- ^ "DEA History Book, 1985 - 1990". Drug Enforcement Administration. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ "District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2016". Disaster Center. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- ^ "District of Columbia Crime Index Rates Per 100,000 Inhabitants". Disaster Center. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- ^ Urbina, Ian (2006-07-13). "Washington Officials Try to Ease Crime Fear". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ Liz Farmer (2010-10-21). "D.C.'s population grows for first time in 60 years". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2011-08-27.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Klein, Allison; Dan Keating (2006-10-13). "Liveliest D.C. Neighborhoods Also Jumping With Robberies". The Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ "DC Crime Statistics: Jan. 1 to March 24, 2011". The Washington Post. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2011-11-25.