This Town in Maryland State Takes the Crown for Most Violent

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Written By Ryan Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

Rich in history, culturally varied, and blessed with breathtaking scenery is Maryland. Its negative side, meanwhile, is that it is home to some of the most violent towns in the nation. One community in particular jumps out as the riskiest to reside in Maryland, according to the most recent FBI crime statistics: Baltimore.

What Drives Baltimore’s Violence?

At more than 600,000 residents, Baltimore is a metropolis with an astoundingly high rate of gunshots, robberies, assaults, and homicides. Baltimore had the most murders in its history and the fifth-highest total in the country in 2023—335. Over ten times the national average, that equates to a murder rate of 55.8 per 100,000 persons. Baltimore ranked second in the nation for robberies and fourth for violent assaults.

Drug trafficking, gang violence, racial segregation, poverty, unemployment, police corruption, and public distrust of the criminal justice system are just a few of the many reasons Baltimore’s high murder rate. Numerous locals are afraid and hopeless, and some turn to violence as a means of surviving or getting revenge. Because it interrupted social services, raised stress and isolation, and decreased police presence and accountability, the COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse.

How Are the Issues Being Addressed?

Both the crime issue in Baltimore and the attempts to address it are not novel. The city has experimented with a number of tactics over the years, including recruiting additional police officers, instituting community policing, boosting surveillance cameras, enforcing curfews, announcing states of emergency, and starting anti-violence programs. No one of these steps, though, has been able to appreciably lower the violence or win back public trust.

A more comprehensive and long-term strategy, one that tackles the underlying reasons of crime and violence—inequality, trauma, education, health, and economic opportunity—is what several experts and activists contend Baltimore needs. The government, the police, the community, the media, and the commercial sector are among the stakeholders who are urged to work together more. They think that Baltimore can only overcome its obstacles and realize its potential by cooperating and making investments in the people and the communities.

Verdict

The questionable title of most violent town in Maryland and among the most violent in the nation belongs to Baltimore. The city has been beset with a long-standing, intricate crime issue that has gotten worse during the epidemic. Although a lot of attempts have been made to stop the violence, none have been effective or long-term. Baltimore need a new, all-encompassing plan that addresses the fundamental problems that drive crime and violence and that enlists the cooperation and involvement of all societal segments. Then and only then can Baltimore expect to take back its position as a secure and affluent metropolis.

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