Oklahoma City, the capital and largest city of Oklahoma, has been named the highest crime rate in the state, according to the most recent data released by the FBI. The city reported 25,639 total crimes in 2020, which translates to 3,701.2 crimes per 100,000 people. This is 59.25% above the national average and 1.7 times higher than the U.S. average. Oklahoma City ranks #286 safest out of 317 cities in Oklahoma and #8,749 safest out of 9,869 cities in the United States.
Violent Crime in Oklahoma City
Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Oklahoma City had 4,323 violent crimes in 2020, which means a violent crime rate of 6.29 per 1,000 residents. This is higher than the national median of 4 per 1,000 residents and higher than in 94.9% of U.S. cities. The chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Oklahoma City are 1 in 159, compared to 1 in 226 in Oklahoma and 1 in 243 in the nation.
The most common violent crime in Oklahoma City was aggravated assault, with 3,049 reported incidents in 2020, followed by robbery with 646 incidents, rape with 546 incidents, and murder with 82 incidents. The murder rate in Oklahoma City was 0.12 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national rate of 0.07 per 1,000 residents.
Property Crime in Oklahoma City
Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Oklahoma City had 25,702 property crimes in 2020, which means a property crime rate of 37.37 per 1,000 residents. This is higher than the national median of 19 per 1,000 residents and higher than in 90.5% of U.S. cities. The chances of becoming a victim of a property crime in Oklahoma City are 1 in 27, compared to 1 in 38 in Oklahoma and 1 in 37 in the nation.
The most common property crime in Oklahoma City was larceny-theft, with 15,812 reported incidents in 2020, followed by burglary with 6,385 incidents, and motor vehicle theft with 3,505 incidents. The motor vehicle theft rate in Oklahoma City was 5.1 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national rate of 2.68 per 1,000 residents.
Why is Oklahoma City So Crime-Ridden?
There are many possible factors that contribute to the high crime rate in Oklahoma City, such as poverty, unemployment, education, drug abuse, gang activity, and police resources. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in Oklahoma City was 16.3% in 2019, which is higher than the state rate of 15.2% and the national rate of 12.3%.
The unemployment rate in Oklahoma City was 6.1% in October 2021, which is higher than the state rate of 4.2% and the national rate of 4.6%. The high school graduation rate in Oklahoma City was 84.8% in 2019, which is lower than the state rate of 86.5% and the national rate of 88%.
Drug abuse is another major problem in Oklahoma City, as the state ranks among the highest in the nation for opioid prescriptions, overdose deaths, and methamphetamine use. Gang activity is also prevalent in Oklahoma City, as there are an estimated 5,000 gang members belonging to more than 130 gangs in the city.
Police resources are also strained in Oklahoma City, as the city has one of the lowest ratios of police officers per capita in the nation, with only 1.6 officers per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2.4 officers per 1,000 residents.
Conclusion
Oklahoma City is a city with a rich history, culture, and economy, but it also faces serious challenges with crime and violence. The city has the highest crime rate in the state and one of the highest in the nation, with high rates of violent and property crimes. There are many factors that may contribute to the high crime rate in Oklahoma City, such as poverty, unemployment, education, drug abuse, gang activity, and police resources. The city needs to address these issues and implement effective strategies to reduce crime and improve public safety.