For the fourth time in 11 years, New Orleans has the highest murder rate in the U.S. giving it the distinct nickname of "murder capital of the nation."
In the year 2011, within the first three months of the year there had been 58 murders compared to the 45 killed over the same time period last year. If the rate continues at this pace then New Orleans is in for one of its most dangerous and murderous years since 2004. Many of the killings in the city happen by gun between the hours of 8 p.m. and midnight in the pockets of New Orleans where victims have criminal records and are unemployed.
In a recent letter to the editor at the Times Picayune, Chief of Police Ronal Serpas wrote "finally, the level of violence, particularly murder, is unacceptable in our community. The NOPD refocuses its efforts daily to assist in all that we can do to help reduce this crime."
According to the recently revised U.S. census, New Orleans had a murder rate of about 52 people per 100,000 in 2009. Crimes rates have become difficult to put together due to a shifting population. Even with the most general estimates of population, this city still remains the nation’s most murderous city.
In a report released by the U.S. Department of Justice, federal experts determine the New Orleans' homicide rate to be five times higher than cities of similar size. The same federal experts also determined a rate that is 10 times higher than the national rate. Despite the fact, overall crime rates are actually lower than the rates of cities similar in size.
The city of Richmond, California has the second highest murder rate in the nation. New Orleans, along with the city of Richmond, is followed by St. Louis, Detroit, and Baltimore. Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge, holds the sixth highest murder rate in the nation. Other murderous cities in the U.S. include Oakland, California and New York City, New York.