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Dedham's Violent Crime Trends: Colonial City Faces Modern Challenges
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Dedham, Massachusetts, a city spanning approximately 10.68 square miles, has witnessed significant changes in its violent crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased from 38 to 47, marking a 23.68% rise. During this period, the population grew from 24,328 to 25,150, a 3.38% increase.
Murder trends in Dedham have remained relatively stable, with most years reporting zero incidents. The exceptions were 2010 and 2016, each recording one murder. This translates to a murder rate of 0.04 per 1,000 people in those years. The city's contribution to state murders was 0.56% in 2010 and 0.83% in 2016. These isolated incidents suggest that murder remains an infrequent occurrence in the community.
Rape incidents have fluctuated over the years, peaking at 5 cases in both 2014 and 2019. The rate per 1,000 people ranged from 0 to 0.20, with the highest rate observed in 2019. Dedham's contribution to state rape cases varied, reaching a maximum of 0.52% in 2014. The inconsistent pattern indicates that while rape occurs, it does not exhibit a clear trend over time.
Robbery cases in Dedham have shown a general decline from 2010 to 2022. The number of robberies decreased from 6 in 2010 to 3 in 2022, a 50% reduction. The robbery rate per 1,000 people fell from 0.25 to 0.12 during this period. The city's share of state robberies fluctuated but remained relatively low, ranging from 0.03% to 0.14%. This downward trend in robberies is a positive indicator for public safety in the community.
Aggravated assault cases have demonstrated significant variation. The number of incidents dropped from 28 in 2010 to a low of 1 in 2019, but then sharply increased to 41 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 people followed a similar pattern, falling from 1.15 in 2010 to 0.04 in 2019, before rising to 1.63 in 2022. The city's contribution to state aggravated assaults has also varied, ranging from 0.01% to 0.30%. The recent spike in 2022 is concerning and warrants attention from local law enforcement.
An examination of correlations reveals a potential relationship between the increase in violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults, and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of white residents decreased from 83% in 2013 to 81% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 6% to 8% during the same period. This shift coincides with the recent uptick in violent crimes, though it is important to note that correlation does not imply causation.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we anticipate a potential continuation of the recent upward trend in aggravated assaults if current conditions persist. However, other violent crime categories are expected to remain relatively stable or show slight fluctuations based on historical patterns.
In summary, Dedham has experienced varying trends across different categories of violent crime over the past decade. While murders remain rare and robberies have decreased, the recent spike in aggravated assaults is a significant concern. The city's changing demographics may be influencing these trends, but further investigation is needed to understand the underlying causes. Local authorities should focus on addressing the factors contributing to the rise in aggravated assaults while maintaining the positive trends in other crime categories to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the community.
