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Violent Crime Trends in Picayune, Mississippi: A Decade of Significant Increases
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Picayune, located in Mississippi, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends. Over the years from 2010 to 2022, the city has experienced fluctuations in both its total violent crime numbers and population. The total number of violent crimes increased from 31 in 2010 to 76 in 2022, representing a 145% increase. During this same period, the population decreased slightly from 21,559 in 2010 to 20,761 in 2022, a decline of about 3.7%.
Examining murder trends, Picayune has maintained relatively low numbers, with most years reporting zero murders. The exceptions were 2011 and 2015, each recording 2 murders. This translates to a rate of approximately 0.1 murders per 1,000 people in those years. The percentage of state murders fluctuated, peaking at 1.87% in 2015. Despite these occasional incidents, the city has generally maintained a low murder rate relative to its population.
Rape incidents in the city have shown variability over the years. The number of reported rapes increased from 4 in 2010 to 6 in 2022. This represents a rise from about 0.19 to 0.29 rapes per 1,000 people. The percentage of state rapes also increased significantly, from 0.83% in 2010 to 2.27% in 2022. This trend suggests that while the absolute numbers remain relatively low, the city's contribution to state-wide rape statistics has grown.
Robbery trends in the area have shown notable fluctuations. The number of robberies peaked at 19 in 2014 but decreased to 11 by 2022. This translates to a change from 0.51 robberies per 1,000 people in 2010 to 0.53 per 1,000 in 2022, indicating a slight increase in the robbery rate relative to population. The city's share of state robberies increased dramatically from 0.51% in 2010 to 4.03% in 2022, suggesting a growing concentration of robbery incidents within the city compared to the rest of the state.
Aggravated assault has shown the most significant increase among violent crimes in the city. The number of aggravated assaults rose from 16 in 2010 to 59 in 2022, a 268.75% increase. This translates to an increase from 0.74 to 2.84 aggravated assaults per 1,000 people. The city's contribution to state-wide aggravated assault statistics also grew substantially, from 0.78% in 2010 to 3.6% in 2022. This trend indicates that aggravated assault has become a more prevalent issue in the area over time.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong relationship between the increase in violent crime and changes in racial demographics. The percentage of Black residents increased from 13% in 2013 to 21% in 2022, coinciding with the overall increase in violent crime. Additionally, the rise in crime rates appears to correlate with fluctuations in population density, which varied from 1,195 people per square mile in 2010 to 1,150 in 2022.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, Picayune may see its total violent crime numbers reach approximately 100-110 incidents per year if current trends continue. This forecast suggests a potential 31-45% increase from the 2022 figures.
In summary, Picayune has experienced a significant increase in violent crime over the past decade, particularly in aggravated assaults and robberies. The city's contribution to state-wide crime statistics has grown across all categories of violent crime. These trends, coupled with demographic shifts and population density changes, paint a complex picture of evolving public safety challenges in Picayune. As the community moves forward, addressing these trends will likely be crucial for maintaining and improving the quality of life for its residents.
