LA Crimes Sizzled in 1981

The dark underbelly of Louisiana’s crime scene in 1981 was a tale of two epidemics: the cocaine fueled violence that ravaged the nation and the state’s persistent struggles with violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, property crimes skyrocketed, with burglaries and larcenies on the rise. The state’s residents were shaken by a 30-year high in violent crime rates.

The UCR program, which collected crime data from law enforcement agencies across the country, reported that Louisiana’s crime rates in 1981 were among the highest in the nation. The state’s crime woes were further exacerbated by the national cocaine epidemic, which brought with it an increase in violent crime, particularly armed robberies and aggravated assaults.

Nationally, the FBI UCR program reported a 2.7% increase in violent crime rates, with 1,434,219 reported incidents. Louisiana’s crime rates, however, were significantly higher, with a 10.3% increase in violent crime, fueled by a 14.5% surge in aggravated assaults. The state’s residents were also plagued by a 15.6% increase in burglaries and a 12.1% increase in larcenies.

The cocaine epidemic, which had begun to take hold in the late 1970s, was a major contributor to the surge in violent crime in Louisiana. The state’s location, bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River, made it a key hub for cocaine trafficking. The resulting violence and gang activity had a devastating impact on communities across the state.

The crime trends in Louisiana in 1981 were a stark reminder of the state’s ongoing struggles with violent crime. The data from the FBI UCR program painted a picture of a state gripped by fear and violence, with no end in sight. As the nation grappled with the consequences of the cocaine epidemic, Louisiana’s residents were left to pick up the pieces and face the harsh reality of their state’s crime problem.”