New Jersey has many interesting places to visit, such as the popular Jersey Shore, the Statue of Liberty, and the Pine Barrens. Even so, some places have very high crime rates, even with these positives.
A new study from NeighborhoodScout says that two cities in New Jersey are among the 30 most dangerous places in the United States for murder in 2023. The most murders happen in these towns per 1,000 people in the whole country. Let’s get into the specifics.
Camden is the Second Most Dangerous Place in the Country for Murder
Camden is in South Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. It has about 73,000 people and a poverty rate of 36.4%. The city has long-term social and economic problems. Some of these are crime, unemployment, drug trafficking, and fighting between gangs. Camden had 23 killings in 2023, for a murder rate of 31.5 per 1,000 people. This made it the second-worst murder capital in the country, after East St. Louis, Illinois. Also, Camden has a lot of problems with high numbers of other violent crimes like rape, assault, and theft.
Camden has had a problem with crime for many years, which has led to many efforts to improve the city. Some of these efforts are tearing down old buildings, putting more police officers in the area, improving schooling, and bringing in new businesses. In spite of these efforts, the city still has many problems, such as a lack of job chances, a lot of illegal guns, the power of drug cartels, and the breaking down of family and social ties.
Newark is the Biggest City With the Most Murders
With about 295,000 people, Newark is the biggest and most populous city in New Jersey. It is also the county seat of Essex County and an important transportation and culture hub. Newark does, however, have a very high crime rate, especially when it comes to murder. Newark had 60 killings in 2023, for a murder rate of 20.3 per 1,000 people. This made it the fifth most murderous city in the country and the most murderous city in New Jersey. Other violent crimes, like robbery, attack, and rape, also cause problems in Newark.
Newark has a past like Camden’s that is marked by riots, racial tensions, corruption, poverty, and unemployment. Infrastructure, housing, education, and public safety have all been the focus of many attempts to revitalize areas. For example, there is a lack of trust between the community and the police, there are gangs and organized crime in the city, illegal guns are easy to get, and the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are still being felt.
In Conclusion
New Jersey is like a tapestry of contrasts. There are beautiful and safe places as well as risky and violent ones. For 2023, Camden and Newark have been named the murder capitals of the United States. These are towns that are known for having high murder rates. Different programs have been used in these places to deal with crime, but big problems still exist. To stop bloodshed and make life better for the people who live there, they need more help and resources.