Missouri in the Grip of Crime 1990

Missouri in 1990 was a state gripped by a rising tide of crime. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the state saw a significant increase in violent crime rates.

The UCR program, which was launched in 1930, is the nation’s longest-running comprehensive crime reporting system. In 1990, Missouri reported a violent crime rate of 635.6 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants. While this rate was not the highest in the country, it was a stark reminder of the state’s crime woes.

Nationwide, crime rates were on the rise in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The crack cocaine epidemic, which had begun to spread in the 1980s, was fueling a surge in violent crime. Cities across the country were grappling with the consequences of this epidemic, from street gangs to drive-by shootings.

In Missouri, the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City bore the brunt of the state’s crime problems. Both cities reported high rates of violent crime, with St. Louis leading the state in murder and non-negligent manslaughter rates. The city’s South Side was particularly notorious for its high crime rates.

The types of crimes that dominated in Missouri in 1990 were largely driven by the state’s urban problems. Burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft were among the most common property crimes in the state. Violent crimes, such as aggravated assault and robbery, also plagued Missouri communities.

The data from the FBI UCR program provides a grim snapshot of crime in Missouri in 1990. While the state’s crime rates were not the worst in the country, they were certainly among the most concerning. The trend lines were not encouraging, either, as crime rates continued to rise throughout the decade.