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Violent Crime Trends in Lee's Summit, Missouri: A Decade of Change and Challenges
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Lee's Summit, Missouri, has witnessed significant changes in violent crime rates alongside substantial population growth over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased from 97 to 144, a 48.45% rise, while the population grew from 91,229 to 104,336, a 14.37% increase. This analysis examines the specific trends of various violent crime categories and their implications for the city.
Murder rates in Lee's Summit have fluctuated over the years, with a concerning spike in recent times. In 2010, there were 2 murders, which decreased to 0 in several subsequent years. However, 2022 saw a dramatic increase to 6 murders, the highest in the observed period. This translates to a rate of 0.057 murders per 1,000 people in 2022, up from 0.022 per 1,000 in 2010. The percentage of state murders attributed to the city also rose significantly, from 0.59% in 2010 to 1.12% in 2022. This upward trend in both absolute numbers and state proportion suggests a growing concern for public safety that requires attention.
Rape incidents have shown a general upward trend, increasing from 17 cases in 2010 to 24 in 2022, a 41.18% rise. The rate per 1,000 people remained relatively stable, moving from 0.186 in 2010 to 0.230 in 2022. However, the city's percentage of state rape cases decreased from 1.59% to 1.14% over this period. This indicates that while the absolute number of rapes has increased, it has not outpaced population growth significantly, and the city's contribution to state totals has actually decreased.
Robbery trends present a more positive picture. The number of robberies decreased from 26 in 2010 to 11 in 2022, a 57.69% reduction. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 0.285 to 0.105, and the city's percentage of state robberies dropped from 0.47% to 0.36%. This substantial decrease in robbery rates, both in absolute terms and relative to population growth, suggests improved safety measures or economic conditions in the city.
Aggravated assault cases have seen a significant increase, rising from 52 in 2010 to 103 in 2022, a 98.08% increase. The rate per 1,000 people grew from 0.570 to 0.987. The city's contribution to state aggravated assault cases also increased from 0.36% to 0.59%. This sharp rise in aggravated assaults is particularly concerning and may indicate growing tensions or violence within the community.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong relationship between the increase in violent crimes and population density. As the population density increased from 1,427 per square mile in 2010 to 1,632 in 2022, violent crimes also rose. Additionally, median rent showed an upward trend, increasing from $998 in 2013 to $1,274 in 2022, which coincides with the overall increase in violent crimes.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we can expect the total number of violent crimes to continue increasing if current trends persist. Based on the average annual growth rate of 3.37% observed from 2010 to 2022, we might see approximately 170 violent crimes by 2029. However, this prediction should be interpreted cautiously, as various factors can influence crime rates.
In summary, Lee's Summit has experienced a complex evolution of violent crime patterns from 2010 to 2022. While robbery rates have improved significantly, the city faces challenges with increasing murder rates, a steady rise in rapes, and a substantial surge in aggravated assaults. These trends, coupled with population growth and increasing population density, suggest a need for targeted interventions and community-based strategies to address the rising violent crime rates, particularly in the areas of murder and aggravated assault.
