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Hackensack's Violent Crime Trends: A Decade of Change Amidst Population Growth
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Hackensack, a city in New Jersey, has experienced notable changes in its violent crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes decreased by 12.15%, from 107 incidents to 94, while the population grew by 7.14%, from 42,710 to 45,758 residents. This indicates a general trend of improved safety relative to population growth.
Murder rates in Hackensack have remained relatively low, with most years reporting zero incidents. Sporadic occurrences were noted, with one murder reported in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019, and two in 2020. The murder rate per 1,000 people peaked in 2020 at 0.044 but generally remained at or close to zero for most years. The city's contribution to state murder statistics was minimal, with the highest percentage being 0.87% in 2020.
Rape incidents have shown considerable variation over the years. The number of reported rapes increased from 6 in 2010 to 10 in 2022, a 66.67% increase. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 0.14 in 2010 to 0.22 in 2022. A significant spike occurred in 2015 with 17 reported cases, resulting in a rate of 0.39 per 1,000 people. The city's percentage of state rape cases fluctuated, reaching a high of 5.59% in 2021.
Robbery trends show a marked decrease over the period. In 2010, there were 31 robberies, which declined to 14 in 2022, a 54.84% decrease. The robbery rate per 1,000 people dropped from 0.73 in 2010 to 0.31 in 2022. The city's contribution to state robbery statistics varied, peaking at 1.75% in 2021 but generally remaining below 1%.
Aggravated assault incidents have shown fluctuations but an overall increase. In 2010, there were 70 cases, which rose to 70 again in 2022, after peaking at 81 in 2019. The rate per 1,000 people remained relatively stable, from 1.64 in 2010 to 1.53 in 2022. The city's percentage of state aggravated assault cases increased from 0.81% in 2010 to 1.24% in 2022.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density increased from 10,190 per square mile in 2010 to 10,917 in 2022, violent crime rates showed some fluctuations but an overall decrease. This suggests that despite increasing density, the city has managed to maintain or improve its safety levels.
Racial demographics also show some correlation with crime trends. As the Hispanic population increased from 32% in 2013 to 37% in 2022, and the white population decreased from 31% to 27% over the same period, violent crime rates showed some variations but ultimately decreased. This indicates that changing racial demographics have not led to an increase in violent crime.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, Hackensack may see a further reduction in overall violent crime rates. Robberies are likely to continue their downward trend, potentially reaching single digits annually. Aggravated assaults may stabilize or show a slight decrease. Rape incidents could fluctuate but are unlikely to exceed the 2015 peak. Murder rates are expected to remain low, with possible years of zero incidents interspersed with occasional single cases.
In summary, Hackensack has shown resilience in managing violent crime despite population growth and demographic changes. The significant decrease in robberies, coupled with relatively stable rates of other violent crimes, suggests an overall improvement in public safety. However, the slight increase in aggravated assaults and fluctuations in rape incidents indicate areas that may require continued attention from law enforcement and community programs.
