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Violent Crime Trends in DeWitt, Arkansas: A Small City's Surprising Murder Case
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
DeWitt, Arkansas, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends over recent years. From 2018 to 2022, the city experienced fluctuations in its total violent crime incidents, with a notable overall decrease from 39 cases in 2018 to 27 cases in 2022, representing a 30.8% reduction. This decline occurred against a backdrop of modest population growth, with the number of residents increasing from 4,614 in 2018 to 4,690 in 2022, a 1.6% increase.
The murder rate in DeWitt has shown a significant change in recent years. From 2018 to 2021, there were no reported murders, maintaining a rate of 0 per 1,000 residents. However, in 2022, the city recorded its first murder case, resulting in a rate of 0.21 per 1,000 residents. This single incident also marked a sharp increase in the city's contribution to the state's murder statistics, jumping from 0% to 0.4% of Arkansas' total murders. While this change is dramatic in percentage terms, it's important to note that it represents a single incident in a small population.
Rape incidents in the city have fluctuated over the years but show a general stability. The number of reported rapes remained constant at 3 cases in both 2018 and 2022, with some variation in between. The rape rate per 1,000 residents slightly decreased from 0.65 in 2018 to 0.64 in 2022 due to the small population increase. The city's contribution to the state's total rape cases has seen minor fluctuations, from 0.21% in 2018 to 0.19% in 2022, indicating a relatively consistent share of the state's incidents.
Robbery trends in DeWitt have been notably low. From 2018 to 2022, there was only one reported robbery, occurring in 2021. This translates to a rate that fluctuated between 0 and 0.22 per 1,000 residents. The city's contribution to the state's robbery statistics remained at 0% for most years, with a brief spike to 0.08% in 2021. These figures suggest that robbery is not a significant concern for the community.
Aggravated assault has been the most prevalent form of violent crime in the city. However, there's been a substantial decrease over the years, from 36 cases in 2018 to 23 in 2022, representing a 36.1% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 7.80 in 2018 to 4.90 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the city's contribution to the state's aggravated assault cases has fluctuated, decreasing from 0.41% in 2018 to 0.2% in 2022, indicating that the reduction in DeWitt outpaced the state average.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a moderate inverse relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density decreased from 1,541 per square mile in 2018 to 1,567 in 2022, the overall violent crime rate also declined. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the racial composition and crime rates. As the white population percentage increased from 75% in 2018 to 82% in 2022, there was a corresponding decrease in violent crime incidents.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029 (five years from now), DeWitt could see its violent crime rate continue to decrease. The total number of violent crimes might stabilize around 20-25 incidents per year, with aggravated assaults likely remaining the predominant form of violent crime, potentially averaging around 15-20 cases annually.
In conclusion, DeWitt has shown an overall positive trend in reducing violent crime over the past five years, particularly in aggravated assaults. The city's low incidence of murders and robberies, combined with stable rape statistics, suggests a relatively safe environment for residents. However, the recent occurrence of a murder case in 2022 highlights the need for continued vigilance and community safety measures. The relationship between demographic shifts and crime rates offers interesting insights for local policymakers and law enforcement in their efforts to maintain and improve public safety in this Arkansas community.
