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Violent Crime Trends in Fitzgerald, Georgia: Small City Faces Big Challenges
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Fitzgerald, located in Georgia, presents an intriguing case study in violent crime trends. Over the past decade, the city has experienced fluctuations in its total violent crime incidents, with a notable increase from 41 cases in 2020 to 102 cases in 2022, representing a 148.8% surge. This dramatic rise occurred despite a slight population decrease from 15,385 in 2020 to 15,333 in 2022, a drop of 0.34%.
Examining murder rates, the city has maintained relatively low numbers, with zero incidents reported in most years. However, there were isolated cases in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2022, each representing one murder. The murder rate per 1,000 people fluctuated between 0 and 0.065 during this period. The percentage of state murders attributable to Fitzgerald ranged from 0% to 0.96%, with the highest contribution in 2016 at 0.96%.
Rape incidents in the city have shown variability over the years. The data indicates an increase from 2 cases in 2018 to 5 cases in 2020, followed by a decrease to 4 cases in 2022. The rape rate per 1,000 people increased from 0.13 in 2018 to 0.32 in 2020, then slightly decreased to 0.26 in 2022. The city's contribution to state rape cases fluctuated, with the highest percentage in 2020 at 0.65% and the lowest in 2021 at 0.17%.
Robbery trends show a general decline over the observed period. The number of robberies decreased from 28 in 2015 to 2 in 2022, representing a significant drop of 92.9%. The robbery rate per 1,000 people correspondingly fell from 1.79 in 2015 to 0.13 in 2022. The city's share of state robberies also declined, peaking at 0.5% in 2015 and dropping to 0.09% by 2022.
Aggravated assault has shown the most dramatic increase among violent crimes in Fitzgerald. The number of cases rose from 26 in 2018 to 95 in 2022, a 265.4% increase. The aggravated assault rate per 1,000 people surged from 1.69 in 2018 to 6.20 in 2022. The city's contribution to state aggravated assault cases also increased significantly, from 0.32% in 2018 to 0.72% in 2022.
A notable correlation exists between the rise in violent crime and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of Black residents increased from 37% in 2013 to 41% in 2022, while the White population decreased from 55% to 50% during the same period. This demographic shift coincided with the overall increase in violent crime, particularly aggravated assaults.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends, it's projected that by 2029, Fitzgerald may see its total violent crime incidents reach approximately 150-160 cases annually if current trends continue. This projection is based on the sharp increase observed between 2020 and 2022, assuming a similar rate of growth.
In conclusion, Fitzgerald has experienced a significant uptick in violent crime, primarily driven by a surge in aggravated assaults. While murders remain relatively rare, the substantial increase in overall violent incidents, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of a slightly declining population, suggests a concerning trend. The correlation between changing demographics and rising crime rates warrants further investigation into potential socio-economic factors influencing these trends. As the city moves forward, addressing these escalating crime rates will likely be a key priority for local law enforcement and community leaders.
