In addition to being one of the most populous and diverse states in the United States, Texas has an exceptionally high violent crime rate.24/7 Wall Street recently conducted an analysis which positioned Texas as the eleventh most perilous state in the United States, as determined by the 2020 Uniform Crime Report of the FBI. The research examined the incidence and frequency of severe violent offenses in each state, including rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide. Crime levels may also be influenced by variables including education, employment, poverty, and gun ownership, as accounted for in the study.

The state of Texas has the nation’s highest rate of violent crimes and homicides

According to the study, Texas recorded the highest incidence of violent crimes in 2020, with a cumulative count exceeding 115,000 incidents. The aforementioned figure represents a violent crime rate of 391.1 per 100,000 individuals, an amount that surpasses the national average of 334 per 100,000.Texas ranked first in the country in terms of homicides in 2020, with nearly 2,000 cases. In comparison to the national average of 5.8 per 100,000, the homicide rate in Texas was 6.8 per 100,000 individuals.

Certain cities in Texas had notably high concentrations of violence, according to the study. Illustratively, the violent crime rates in the metropolitan areas of Lubbock and Corpus Christi were 919 and 738 per 100,000 individuals, respectively, which are significantly higher than the national average. Additionally, the study highlighted the prevalence of firearms in Texas, where 35.7% of individuals possess one, the thirteenth highest rate among states.

Texas has a low level of education and a high poverty rate

Additionally, socioeconomic factors that might contribute to Texas’s high crime rate were investigated. According to the study, Texas exhibited the ninth greatest poverty rate nationwide in 2020, standing at 14.2%. Poverty may increase the likelihood of criminal behavior, as individuals may turn to illegal means to meet their fundamental needs, according to the study. Additionally, poverty may restrict access to social services, health care, and education, thereby diminishing prospects for social integration and upward mobility, according to the study.

Additionally, Texas has a low level of educational attainment, which may have an effect on the crime rate, according to the study. According to the study, the proportion of adults in Texas holding a bachelor’s degree or higher was a mere 30.3% in 2020, ranking it as the fifth lowest rate among states. The study posits that through the development of cognitive and social abilities, income and employability enhancement, and the promotion of civic and moral values, education could potentially mitigate the likelihood of criminal behavior.

In conclusion

Despite its many advantages and disadvantages, Texas is beset by a severe violent crime problem. 24/7 Wall Street recently conducted an analysis which positioned Texas as the eleventh most perilous state in the United States, as determined by the 2020 Uniform Crime Report of the FBI. The research findings indicated that Texas exhibited the highest incidence of violent crimes and homicides among states, with certain municipalities in Texas experiencing notably elevated levels of violence.

Additionally, the study unveiled that Texas exhibited a substantial poverty rate and a dearth of education, factors that potentially exert an impact on the state’s crime rate. In Texas, resolving these socioeconomic factors may aid in reducing the crime rate and enhancing the quality of life, according to the study.