Although Texas has a lot to offer in terms of history, culture, and scenery, it also has a high crime rate and is ranked as the 11th most dangerous state in the US. Still, it’s important to remember that not every city in Texas has the same amount of risk.
Violence and property crimes happen at much higher rates in some cities, making them less safe for both residents and tourists. We look at the most recent FBI crime data to find out which city has won the dubious title of “crime capital of Texas.”
The Most Dangerous City in Texas is Humble
New data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program show that Humble will be the most dangerous city in Texas in 2023. The city of Humble is in Harris County, about 20 miles northeast of Houston. It has a population of 15,569 people and a worrying crime rate of 60.25 cases per 1,000 residents.
Along with being higher than the state average of 26.47 crimes per 1,000 residents, Humble also has a higher crime rate than the national median of 23.8 crimes per 1,000 people. In addition, Humble has the highest crime rate of any city in Texas with more than 10,000 people.
There are 53.66 property crimes for every 1,000 people living in the city, which is more than double the state average of 21.91 crimes per 1,000 people and the national standard of 19 crimes per 1,000 people. Property crimes include theft, breaking and entering, and car theft. In Humble, you have a 1 in 19 chance of being a victim of property crime.
Also, 6.59 violent crimes happen for every 1,000 people who live in Humble, which is a very high number. This number is higher than the state average of 4.55 incidents per 1,000 people and the median rate across the country, which is 4. There is a 1 in 152 chance of suffering a violent crime in the city. These are horrible crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and assault.
Some places in Humble, like the city center, South Houston Avenue, and Bridgedale Lane, are known for having high crime rates. People don’t feel safe going to these places during the day or at night.
Things That Lead to Crime in Humble and the Effects of It
The high crime rate in Humble is caused by a number of things, including
Poverty: 22% of people in Humble live in poverty, which is a lot higher than the 13.7% state average and the 10.5% national average. Being poor can make people feel desperate and helpless, which can lead them to do bad things.
jobless: The city has a 7% jobless rate, which is higher than both the state average of 5.8% and the national average of 5.4%. Unemployment can limit your options and lower your self-esteem, which can make you more likely to do illegal things.
Education: Only 76% of people in Humble have a high school diploma or higher, and only 14% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. This shows that the town has a low level of education. Getting an education can keep people from becoming criminals by giving them useful skills and information.
Drugs: The city has a massive drug problem, with a lot of people hooked on drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and prescription opioids. People who are addicted to drugs may not be able to make good decisions and may even commit crimes to support their habits.
Gangs: There are a lot of gangs in Humble. Some examples are the Latin Kings, MS-13, Bloods, Crips, and Aryan Brotherhood. Gangs often take advantage of young people who are weak and use them to commit organized crimes like drug dealing, extortion, robbery, and even murder.
The High Crime Rate in Humble Leads to a Number of Bad Things, Including
Fear: People there live in constant fear and insecurity, which hurts faith, community, and quality of life as a whole.
People: who live in areas with a lot of crime are hurt physically, emotionally, and financially by the deaths, injuries, property damage, and theft that happen there.
Cost: Law enforcement, criminal justice, healthcare, and social services all cost the city and society a lot of money, which takes away resources, chances, and growth.
image: The high crime rate in Humble hurts the city’s image, creating negative ideas, beliefs, and labels that can hinder tourism, business, investment, and growth.
Advice and Suggestions on How to Lower Crime in Humble
There is no easy way to solve Humble’s crime situation, but the following suggestions and strategies might help lower the crime rate:
Getting rid of the causes of crime, like poverty, unemployment, lack of education, drugs, and gangs, by providing social and economic support, chances, and programs, especially for young people who are at risk.
Enforcement: Make the criminal justice and law enforcement system in Humble stronger by hiring more people, better training, tools, and technology, and making it easier for agencies to work together.
Community: Get people involved in lowering crime rates by promoting crime reporting, neighborhood watch programs, community events, and helping out local businesses and groups. Encourage dialogue, diversity, and openness, and help build an atmosphere of peace, justice, and responsibility.
In Conclusion
Final words: According to new FBI data, Humble has the sad title of being the crime capital of Texas. There is a scary amount of crime in the city, mostly property and dangerous crimes. Even though there are big problems, Humble could become a safer and more appealing place to live and visit if the government, police, social care providers, businesses, organizations, and the people who live there work together. Together, they can help Humble go from being known as a place with a lot of crime to one with a lot of history, culture, and diversity.