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Baltimore ranked 12th-most dangerous
Issue date: 11/29/07
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Baltimore remains the 12th-most dangerous city in the country, according to a study by Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Press.
Although the city's ranking has not changed since last year, crime has decreased in the Charles Village area.
"Baltimore City may be ranked the 12th most dangerous city; however, a more accurate analysis would involve the crime rate in the Northern Police District, where Hopkins is located, and not that of the overall city crime average," Edmund Skrodzki, executive director of Campus Security, said.
When comparing Baltimore police districts, the Charles Village-Homewood area has significantly lower crime rates than other neighborhoods. Baltimore police statistics show an overall 11 percent decrease in crime from last year in Charles Village and the surrounding area.
CQ released its 2007 "Most Dangerous City" rankings, with Baltimore City at the 12th position, where it was last year. The city also slipped in the "Safest City" ranking, from 360th to 367th.
Some experts have criticized CQ Press's report, claiming the study misuses FBI data and fails to consider cities' ethnic makeups and residents' biases.
Ben Krasney, the representative for CQ Press, said, "The publication does not provide in-depth information on a specific city. That is outside the scope of this book."
He explained a city's ranking is relative to its surrounding cities, and is based on the national average. Therefore if the majority of American cities witness an increase in crime rates, that increase reflects in the national average. This, in turn, affects all cities' ranking because the overall scores are based off the national average.
"It is not uncommon for a city to stay in the same general area of the ranking," Krasney said.
CQ Press formulates their city rankings according to scores in six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.
Baltimore City, with a calculated population of 637,556, received an overall score of 236.78. This score is based from a reference point of 0.00, the average crime rate at the national rate. A greatly positive score reflects an average rate well above the national rate.
Although the city's ranking has not changed since last year, crime has decreased in the Charles Village area.
"Baltimore City may be ranked the 12th most dangerous city; however, a more accurate analysis would involve the crime rate in the Northern Police District, where Hopkins is located, and not that of the overall city crime average," Edmund Skrodzki, executive director of Campus Security, said.
When comparing Baltimore police districts, the Charles Village-Homewood area has significantly lower crime rates than other neighborhoods. Baltimore police statistics show an overall 11 percent decrease in crime from last year in Charles Village and the surrounding area.
CQ released its 2007 "Most Dangerous City" rankings, with Baltimore City at the 12th position, where it was last year. The city also slipped in the "Safest City" ranking, from 360th to 367th.
Some experts have criticized CQ Press's report, claiming the study misuses FBI data and fails to consider cities' ethnic makeups and residents' biases.
Ben Krasney, the representative for CQ Press, said, "The publication does not provide in-depth information on a specific city. That is outside the scope of this book."
He explained a city's ranking is relative to its surrounding cities, and is based on the national average. Therefore if the majority of American cities witness an increase in crime rates, that increase reflects in the national average. This, in turn, affects all cities' ranking because the overall scores are based off the national average.
"It is not uncommon for a city to stay in the same general area of the ranking," Krasney said.
CQ Press formulates their city rankings according to scores in six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.
Baltimore City, with a calculated population of 637,556, received an overall score of 236.78. This score is based from a reference point of 0.00, the average crime rate at the national rate. A greatly positive score reflects an average rate well above the national rate.
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