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Violent Crime Trends in Des Moines: Capital City Grapples with Shifting Crime Landscape
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Des Moines, Iowa's capital and largest city, has experienced significant changes in its violent crime landscape over the past decade. From 2010 to 2021, the total number of violent crimes in the city increased by 25%, from 1,072 to 1,340 incidents. During this same period, the population grew by 4%, from 204,196 to 212,333 residents, indicating that crime rates have outpaced population growth.
The murder rate in Des Moines has shown considerable fluctuation over the years. In 2010, there were 6 murders, which increased to a peak of 33 in 2020, before dramatically dropping to 2 in 2021. This represents a 66.7% decrease from 2010 to 2021. When adjusted for population, the murder rate per 1,000 people went from 0.029 in 2010 to 0.009 in 2021. Despite this overall decrease, the city's share of state murders has been volatile, ranging from 18.92% in 2012 to 40.74% in 2013. This suggests that while the absolute number of murders has decreased, Des Moines continues to account for a significant portion of Iowa's homicides.
Rape incidents in the city have shown a slight increase over time. In 2010, there were 105 reported rapes, which rose to 109 in 2021, a 3.8% increase. However, when considering population growth, the rate per 1,000 people remained relatively stable, going from 0.514 in 2010 to 0.513 in 2021. The city's percentage of state rape cases has fluctuated, decreasing from 15.56% in 2010 to 10.77% in 2021. This indicates that while rape incidents have increased slightly in absolute numbers, Des Moines' contribution to the state's total has decreased.
Robbery trends in Des Moines have shown a significant decline. In 2010, there were 224 robberies, which decreased to 165 in 2021, a 26.3% reduction. The robbery rate per 1,000 people also decreased from 1.097 in 2010 to 0.777 in 2021. However, the city's share of state robberies has increased from 22.95% in 2010 to 25.35% in 2021, suggesting that while robberies have decreased in Des Moines, they may have decreased at a faster rate in other parts of the state.
Aggravated assault cases have seen a substantial increase in Des Moines. In 2010, there were 737 incidents, which rose to 1,064 in 2021, a 44.4% increase. The rate per 1,000 people increased from 3.609 in 2010 to 5.011 in 2021. The city's share of state aggravated assaults also increased from 14.53% in 2010 to 20.12% in 2021, indicating that Des Moines has become a more significant contributor to the state's aggravated assault statistics.
There appears to be a correlation between violent crime trends and population density in Des Moines. As the population density increased from 2,315 people per square mile in 2010 to 2,407 in 2021, violent crime rates also generally increased. Additionally, there seems to be a relationship between median rent and violent crime. As median rent rose from $734 in 2013 to $916 in 2021, violent crime incidents also showed an upward trend.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends, it is estimated that by 2029 (five years from now), Des Moines may see a 15% increase in overall violent crime incidents if current trends continue. This projection suggests that the city could experience approximately 1,541 violent crimes annually by that time.
In conclusion, Des Moines has faced complex changes in its violent crime landscape over the past decade. While murders and robberies have generally decreased, rapes have remained relatively stable, and aggravated assaults have significantly increased. The city's contribution to state crime statistics has varied across different categories, reflecting its evolving role in Iowa's overall crime picture. These trends, coupled with population growth and increasing population density, present ongoing challenges for law enforcement and community safety initiatives in Iowa's capital city.
