Violent Crime on the Rise in Kansas 2018

In 2018, Kansas experienced a significant increase in violent crime, bucking the national trend of declining crime rates. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which collects and analyzes crime data from law enforcement agencies across the country, the state’s violent crime rate rose by a notable margin. The UCR program is the primary source for crime data in the United States, and its findings are widely regarded as the most authoritative.

Nationwide, crime rates had been steadily declining since the early 1990s, with the overall violent crime rate dropping by nearly 50% between 1993 and 2014. However, in 2015, the trend began to reverse, with violent crime rates starting to creep back up. By 2018, the national violent crime rate had increased by 3.4% compared to the previous year. Kansas, however, experienced a more pronounced increase, with a 6.1% spike in violent crime.

The increase in violent crime in Kansas was driven primarily by a rise in aggravated assaults, which accounted for the majority of violent crimes in the state. According to the UCR data, aggravated assaults increased by 10.6% in Kansas between 2017 and 2018. This was followed closely by a 7.4% increase in robberies, which are typically violent crimes involving the use of force or threat.

The increase in violent crime in Kansas was not limited to urban areas. While cities like Wichita and Kansas City saw significant increases in violent crime, rural areas of the state also experienced a rise in violent offenses. This suggests that the problem is not limited to urban areas, but rather a statewide issue that requires a comprehensive response.

The causes of the increase in violent crime in Kansas are complex and multifaceted. Some possible contributing factors include poverty, unemployment, and a lack of access to social services. Additionally, the state’s opioid crisis has been linked to an increase in violent crime, as individuals struggling with addiction may turn to crime to support their habits. Addressing these underlying issues will be crucial in reducing the state’s violent crime rate and improving public safety.