Why is Washington DC the crime capital of the USA?

Question

Is there any particular reason for this? Has Washington DC always been this way?

Answer 1

A few reasons:

Because DC police are completely inept and probably stretched too thin.

The school system there is a complete disaster. Some have been closed down because the buildings have been condemned, they don't have adequate staff, over run with crime, or in one case, there were no books. The drop out rate is sky high. I've never met one single person who graduated from a dc public school. If you drop out in 10th grade what are your options? Dealing drugs, joining a gang, staying on welfare.

It is outrageously expensive to live so many people are poor and turn to dealing drugs or stealing instead of finding a better way. There are generations of people on welfare.

It's gotten better in the past 10 years or so when people started buying up the old properties and renovating them and selling them to yuppies during the housing market boom, which is now on the decline. Homeownership is the key to fixing some of these neighborhoods. Typically folks who've gone thru the trouble of buying a home aren't out mugging people.

Answer 2

"It's the economy, stupid" - Former Pres. Bill Clinton

DC isn't the crime capital of the USA anymore. Today, that award goes to St. Louis, Detroit, and New Orleans. Places that are economically depressed tend to have the highest crime rates. Unemployed and bored males = more violence, stealing, and civil disorder.

DC's economy has been on the upswing for quite some time. This has increased gentrification and redevelopment. Moreover, some of the wealthy folks are moving back into the city center. That isn't to say everything is hunky-dory, there's still plenty of trouble spots in Washington DC. But it is getting better.

And pro-Democrat DC is likely to have an easier time getting legislation through the new Congress than it did under the old regime. Remember, Washington DC is a federally controlled territory, not a state (everything it does has to be approved by Congress).

Answer 3

First it is not the crime capital of the U.S. I think New Orleans get that award.

Washington, DC was and still is a beautiful city.

Unfortunately, we have criminals like everybody else. It is usually the 15 to 30 year olds and its mostly about drugs. I believe they have a curfew for the younger set.

DC also, like everyone else, has to deal with Hispanic gangs that now add to the statistics. We never had this either in the past.

I remember when you could ride the bus or walk around with no fear, still kept the front door open, and people were actually quite polite and well-mannered. There were pockets that you didn't dare venture into.

I am glad I got to experience it when it was nice before crime took over. So sad.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

A large part of it is because their local government is essentially dysfunctional. They actually have quite possibly the worst public school system in the country, or very close to it (I have heard from a friend who is a social worker in the DC area that kids have graduated high school in the public school system and can't read at a first-grade level). Their police system is also dysfunctional.

And, as some people are saying, the city's crime rates are improving and it doesn't have THE highest crime rate in the country, it's better than Baltimore, New Orleans, Detroit and a couple other places. But it's still really bad.

Answer 6

Most of DC's crime has been pushed out to Prince George's County, MD thanks to gentrification. DC is nowhere near as violent as 10-15 years ago. The Jamaican drug gangs of the early 90's have returned to Jamaica to fight the government rather than face lengthy Federal prison sentences.

I think DC is a far safer place now than a decade ago. Even in the worse neighborhoods of Southeast, things are safer. I realize that a criminal is a criminal but I felt that DC criminals have a little more respect and self-control than their counterparts in other cities.

Answer 7

If I gave the real answer as to why Washington DC has the most crime, the answer would be deleted.

Answer 8

Overall DC is a very safe city, but across the anacostia is the bad part of town which makes DC go up in crimes. DC is safe if you avoid that area.

Answer 9

It's not. It's 4th behind Baltimore, Detroit and St. Louis on crime rate per capita.

Answer 10

One HUGE reason is that they have some of the toughest gun control laws in the US. Without guns, the crooks know most ppl cannot protect themselves. It's ripe for the picking.