New Jersey is a multicultural state that borders New York and Pennsylvania and stretches along the Atlantic coast. The state has a reputation for being associated with organized crime despite being well-known for its mountains, beaches, tomatoes, and famous bands like Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
New Jersey has a low overall crime rate despite its large population (9.3 million people). With 137,012 offenses reported during the past year, New Jersey has the highest crime rate among the 50 states.
The vast majority of these crimes are theft-related, with burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft making up the bulk (85%) of these cases. The Garden State has a higher than average rate of violent crime, at 13% of the total.
There were 18,375 violent crime reports in New Jersey in 2016. Murder, rape, robbery, and serious assault are all examples of the kinds of crimes that fall under this category. Most of these violent acts occur in urban settings, making them very risky places to live.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, despite its worldwide reputation as a center for high-stakes gambling and nightlife, is home to just 38,500 people at any given time of year. Beyond its little glitzy sections and busy boardwalk are rundown areas where crime is rampant.
The median income is only $26,900, and 23 percent of the population is considered to be poor. The police in Atlantic City field an incredible 150,000 calls every year. There were 1,199 crimes reported in Atlantic City in 2016. There were 257 violent crimes out of a total of 1,100 (equivalent to 6 per 1,000 inhabitants) and 1,100 property crimes (about 24 per 1,000). Atlantic City has a lower crime rate relative to its population than only 10% of American cities.
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Irvington
Irvington was formerly admired as a charming suburb of Newark, but now its residents and visitors alike are afraid to even drive through the region.
The crack epidemic in the 1980s posed serious problems for Irvington, and the neighborhood has continued to battle with crime ever since. There were 1,230 criminal events in the community in the preceding year. Considering its modest population of 61,176, this is an impressive figure. Twenty people were killed (3 per 1,000 population) and 190 events were classed as violent crimes. There were 1,040 incidences of property crime overall, or about 17 for every 1,000 people.
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Trenton
Trenton, the state capital, is in Mercer County in west-central New Jersey. With 12,000 people per square mile, it has a very dense population.
Trenton has a total population of around 90,000. The city maintained its position on the list of the United States’ Murder Capitals despite a general decrease in crime between 2021 and 2022. Trenton had 40 homicides in 2022, which is shocking considering the city’s relatively small population.
In August 2022, the city celebrated the fact that two months had passed without a homicide. There were 818 violent crimes and 1,652 property crimes reported throughout the year.
In Trenton, one has a 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime, and a 1 in 55 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime. Interestingly, only 13% of American communities are less safe than Trenton.
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Camden
Camden is the county seat of Camden County in southern New Jersey, and its population is close to 74,000. The annual income of the typical American family is $30,000. Approximately 33.6% of the population is considered to be poor. Camden is not just the most dangerous city in New Jersey, but also the third most dangerous city in the entire country.
Camden’s crime and violence rates are third highest in the United States, just behind those of Detroit and St. Louis. As of 2022, the city was designated one of the “Murder Capitals of America.” The overall crime rate for the prior year was 35.47 per 1,000 people.
There were a total of 989 incidences of violent crime and 1,557 cases of property crime inside this setting. Camden has a 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime, and a 1 in 46 chance of becoming a victim of property crime. The city has an average of 23 homicides per year.
What was once a promising link between New Jersey and Pennsylvania has degenerated into a rundown, unsafe area with a negative reputation across the country.
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Paterson
Paterson is home to 159,700 people and is located in northern New Jersey, not far from New York City. A lovely hamlet that formerly boasted the largest silk production business in the country, it is now located near the still-majestic Passaic River Falls. But now it’s officially one of the 100 most dangerous cities in America.
With 1,168 cases of violent crime (7.4 per 1,000 people) and 1,969 cases of property-related offenses (12.4% per 1,000 people), the total number of reported crimes in the past year reaches 3,137.
One in 135 people in Paterson will become a victim of violent crime this year, while 1 in 80 will become a victim of property crime. The safety index in Paterson is 22% higher than the average for American cities.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, New Jersey’s multicultural cities exhibit both cultural abundance and security concerns. Camden, Trenton, and Paterson are just a few of the cities in the state that struggle with higher crime rates despite the state’s generally positive reputation.
When taking into account both crime rates and the underlying societal problems, it is clear that concerted efforts are necessary to solve these issues and create safer neighborhoods.
