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District of Columbia Crime Rates

Key Findings

  • On average, there is approximately 1 violent crime occurring for every 1513 people in District of Columbia.

  • District of Columbia's violent crime rate is lower than the national average. It stands at 0.66 incidents per 1000 residents, compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents.

  • District of Columbia's property crime rate is higher than the national average. It is recorded at 29.61 incidents per 1000 residents, compared to the national average of 20 incidents per 1000 residents.

    Last updated on September 24th, 2024 at 01:36 pm

    by | Sep 7, 2023

    Understanding the safety of a state is crucial, whether you are planning to move, live temporarily or permanently, work, or simply visit. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the crime data of District of Columbia, shedding light on the state’s overall crime rate and offering valuable insights to aid you in making well-informed decisions.

     

    Within the diverse landscape of District of Columbia, various types of criminal activities occur. To offer you a clear picture, we will categorize these offenses into three primary groups: Violent Crimes, Property Crimes, and Other Crimes.

    Total number of crimes in District of Columbia. The information may differ from what we’ll discuss below¹.

    Is District of Columbia Safe? Crimes Breakdown

    ViolentPropertyOther
    Total Number44319,8372,158
    Rate per 10000.6629.613.22

     

    Based on NIBRS data², there are approximately 19 different types of crimes recorded in District of Columbia. These crimes vary in severity, with some considered less serious, such as simple assaults, forgery, and ATM fraud, while others are treated with utmost seriousness, including murder and rape. In our analysis, we have focused on the most significant crimes, particularly those that have a direct impact on people’s safety and lives.

     

    District of Columbia’s Violent Crime Rate (Per 1000 Residents)

     

    District of Columbia has a lower violent crime rate compared to the national average. In District of Columbia, the rate of violent crimes is 0.66 incidents per 1000 residents, and the national average is 4 incidents per 1000 residents.

     

    Comparison of Violent Crime Rates: District of Columbia vs. National Average

    Examining the violent crime rate in District of Columbia compared to the national average enables us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the percentage variance for each specific crime. By conducting this analysis, we can effectively gauge the relative levels of safety and security in District of Columbia in relation to the broader national landscape.

     

    District of Columbia’s Violent Crimes Statistics

    MurderRapeAssaultRobberyKidnapping
    Total Number30501091,205N/A
    Rate per 10000.4600.160.04N/A
    Population670,050

    United States Violent Crimes Statistics

    MurderRapeAssaultRobberyKidnapping
    Total Number23,195145,750939,092207,61636,890
    Rate per 10000.070.442.830.630.11
    Population331,889,360

     

    Insights into Violent Crimes in District of Columbia

    • District of Columbia’s murder crime rate is 0.46, which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.07 by 557%.
    • On the other hand, The state reports no incidents of rape crimes.
    • The assault crime rate of the state stands at 0.16, which is significantly lower than the national average of 2.83 by 94%.
    • Robbery is not a significant concern in District of Columbia, with a crime rate of 0.04, which is significantly lower than the national average of 0.63 by 94%.
    • Reported kidnapping incidents are N/A in Florida

    District of Columbia’s Property Crime Rate (Per 1000 Residents)

     

    District of Columbia has a higher property crime rate compared to the national average. In District of Columbia, the rate of property crimes is 29.61 incidents per 1000 residents, and the national average for property crimes is 20 incidents per 1000 residents.

     

    Comparison of Property Crime Rates: District of Columbia vs. National Average

    Similar to our examination of violent crime rates, analyzing the property crime rates in District of Columbia compared to the national average provides us with valuable insights into the percentage variances for each specific property-related offense.

     

    District of Columbia’s Property Crime Rate Statistics

    BurglaryArsonVandalismBlackmailTheftVehicle TheftIdentity Theft
    Total Number76057,923339,4001,7160
    Rate per 10001.130.0111.820.0514.032.560
    Population670,050

     

    United States Property Crimes Statistics

    BurglaryArsonVandalismBlackmailTheftVehicle TheftIdentity Theft
    Total Number898,48727,9171,307,22912,2704,630,773888,618187,853
    Rate per 10002.720.083.940.0413.952.680.87
    Population331,889,360

     

    Insights into Property Crimes in District of Columbia

    • District of Columbia experiences a burglary crime rate of 1.13, which is lower than the national average of 2.72 by 58%.
    • The arson crime rate is 0.01, which is significantly lower than the national average of 0.08 by 88%.
    • Vandalism is a significant concern in District of Columbia, with a crime rate of 11.82, which is significantly higher than the national average of 3.94 by 200%.
    • The blackmail crime rate is 0.05, which is higher than the national average of 0.04 by 25%.
    • Theft is another area of focus, with a crime rate of 14.03 in District of Columbia, which is higher than the national average of 13.95 by 1%.
    • On the other hand, motor vehicle theft in the state has a rate of 2.56, which is lower than the national average of 2.68 by 4%.
    • The city has no reported incidents of identity theft.

     

    District of Columbia’s Other Crimes Statistics

    Drugs OffensesWeapon Law ViolationsProstitutionAnimal Cruelty
    Total Number6541,49707
    Rate per 10000.982.2300.01
    Population670,050

     

     

    United States Other Crimes Statistics

    Drugs OffensesWeapon Law ViolationsProstitutionAnimal Cruelty
    Total Number1,290,858267,95511,56516,497
    Rate per 10003.890.810.040.05
    Population331,889,360

    District of Columbia’s Other Crimes Data Insights

    • Drug offenses are not a significant concern in District of Columbia, with a rate of 0.98, which is significantly lower than the national average of 3.89 by 75%.
    • Weapon law violations are a significant area of concern in the state. The state’s weapon law violations rate is 2.23, which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.81 by 175%.

     

    Conclusion

    District of Columbia has a significantly higher murder rate than the national average, but no reported incidents of rape or kidnapping. Assault and robbery rates are significantly lower than the national average. Burglary rate is lower, but vandalism and theft rates are higher. Motor vehicle theft is slightly lower, and there are no reported incidents of identity theft. Drug offenses are significantly lower, but weapon law violations are significantly higher than the national average.

    ¹For this analysis, we will focus on the more significant ones that directly affect people’s safety and well-being, rather than delving into less critical offenses like simple assaults, ATM frauds, and forgery.

    ²The FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) aims to enhance the quality of crime data collected by law enforcement agencies. It accomplishes this by capturing comprehensive details for each crime incident, including information about victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, and the property involved in the crimes.