Understanding the safety of a community is of utmost importance, whether you are considering relocation, permanent or temporary residence, work, or even just a visit. Here, we will delve deep into the crime data of South Charleston, shedding light on the city’s crime rate and providing valuable insights to assist you in making informed decisions.
South Charleston, like any other city in West Virginia, experiences various types of criminal activities. In order to gain a better understanding of the city’s crime landscape, it is helpful to categorize the offenses into three main categories: Violent Crimes, Property Crimes, and Other Crimes.
Total number of crimes in South Charleston, WV. This information may differ from what we’ll discuss below¹.
Is South Charleston Safe? Crimes Breakdown
| Violent | Property | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 50 | 722 | 196 |
| Rate per 1000 | 4.21 | 60.75 | 16.49 |
Based on NIBRS data², there are approximately 19 different types of crimes recorded in South Charleston. 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.
South Charleston’s Violent Crime Rate (Per 1000 Residents)
South Charleston has a lower violent crime rate compared to West Virginia, but higher than the national average. In South Charleston, the rate of violent crimes is 4.21 incidents per 1000 residents, while in West Virginia it is 4.23 incidents per 1000 residents, and the national average is 4 incidents per 1000 residents.
Comparison of Violent Crime Rates: South Charleston vs. National Average
Examining the violent crime rates in South Charleston 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 South Charleston in relation to the broader national landscape.
South Charleston’s Violent Crimes Statistics
| Murder | Rape | Assault | Robbery | Kidnapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 0 | 2 | 46 | 2 | 0 |
| Rate per 1000 | 0 | 0.17 | 3.87 | 0.17 | 0 |
| Population | 11,884 | ||||
United States Violent Crimes Statistics
| Murder | Rape | Assault | Robbery | Kidnapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 23,195 | 145,750 | 939,092 | 207,616 | 36,890 |
| Rate per 1000 | 0.07 | 0.44 | 2.83 | 0.63 | 0.11 |
| Population | 331,889,360 | ||||
Insights into Violent Crimes in South Charleston
- There are no murder crimes reported in South Charleston.
- On the other hand, the rape crime rate is 0.17, which is significantly lower than the national average of 0.44 by 61%.
- The assault crime rate of the city stands at 3.87, which is higher than the national average of 2.83 by 37%.
- Robbery is not a significant concern in South Charleston, with a crime rate of 0.17, which is significantly lower than the national average of 0.63 by 73%.
- There are no kidnapping crimes reported in The city.
South Charleston’s Property Crime Rate (Per 1000 Residents)
South Charleston has a higher property crime rate compared to both West Virginia and the national average. In South Charleston, the rate of property crimes is 60.74 incidents per 1000 residents, while in West Virginia it is 16.77 incidents per 1000 residents, and the national average is 20 incidents per 1000 residents.
Comparison of Property Crime Rates: South Charleston vs. National Average
Similar to our examination of violent crime rates, analyzing the property crime rates in South Charleston compared to the national average provides us with valuable insights into the percentage variances for each specific property-related offense.
South Charleston’s Property Crime Rate Statistics
| Burglary | Arson | Vandalism | Blackmail | Theft | Vehicle Theft | Identity Theft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 55 | 3 | 107 | 1 | 526 | 30 | 0 |
| Rate per 1000 | 4.63 | 0.25 | 9 | 0.08 | 44.26 | 2.52 | 0 |
| Population | 11,884 | ||||||
United States Property Crimes Statistics
| Burglary | Arson | Vandalism | Blackmail | Theft | Vehicle Theft | Identity Theft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 898,487 | 27,917 | 1,307,229 | 12,270 | 4,630,773 | 888,618 | 187,853 |
| Rate per 1000 | 2.72 | 0.08 | 3.94 | 0.04 | 13.95 | 2.68 | 0.87 |
| Population | 331,889,360 | ||||||
Insights into Property Crimes in South Charleston
- South Charleston experiences a burglary crime rate of 4.63, which is higher than the national average of 2.72 by 70%.
- The arson crime rate is 0.25, which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.08 by 213%.
- Vandalism is a significant concern in South Charleston, with a crime rate of 9, which is significantly higher than the national average of 3.94 by 128%.
- The blackmail crime rate is 0.08, which is higher than the national average of 0.04 by 100%.
- Theft is another area of focus, with a crime rate of 44.26 in South Charleston, which is significantly higher than the national average of 13.95 by 217%.
- On the other hand, motor vehicle theft in the city has a rate of 2.52, which is lower than the national average of 2.68 by 6%.
- The city has no reported incidents of identity theft.
South Charleston’s Other Crimes Statistics
| Drugs Offenses | Weapon Law Violations | Prostitution | Animal Cruelty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 163 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Rate per 1000 | 13.72 | 2.78 | 0 | 0 |
| Population | 11,884 | |||
United States Other Crimes Statistics
| Drugs Offenses | Weapon Law Violations | Prostitution | Animal Cruelty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 1,290,858 | 267,955 | 11,565 | 16,497 |
| Rate per 1000 | 3.89 | 0.81 | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Population | 331,889,360 | |||
Insights into Other Crimes in South Charleston
- Drug offenses are a significant concern in South Charleston, with a rate of 13.72, which is significantly higher than the national average of 3.89 by 253%.
- Weapon law violations are another area of focus. The city’s weapon law violations rate is 2.78, which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.81 by 243%.
Conclusion
When examining the crime rates of South Charleston, it is evident that the city’s violent crime landscape presents certain challenges.. Similarly, in the realm of property crimes, challenges arise from specific offenses surpassing the national average. These include burglary crimes arson crimes vandalism incidents blackmail incidents theft incidents. Moreover, The city faces challenges with drug offenses and weapon law violations, which exceed the national average.
Explore cities like Amery, WI, which have a similar violent crime rate to South Charleston. Also, explore places with a similar property crime rate like .
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 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.