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Violent Crime Trends in Reading, Ohio: A Decade of Mixed Progress
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Reading, Ohio, a small urban area with a population of 10,976 as of 2022, has experienced fluctuations in violent crime rates alongside modest population changes over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes increased from 24 to 28, representing a 16.67% increase, while the population decreased slightly from 11,269 to 10,976, a decline of 2.60%.
The murder rate in Reading has remained remarkably low, with only one reported case in 2017 over the entire period from 2010 to 2022. This single incident represented 0.18% of the state's murders that year. With a rate of 0.09 murders per 1,000 people in 2017 and zero in all other years, the city has maintained an exceptionally low murder rate relative to its population.
Rape incidents have fluctuated over the years, with a peak of 7 cases in 2010 (0.62 per 1,000 people) and a low of 2 cases in 2019 (0.19 per 1,000 people). The most recent data from 2022 shows 5 reported rapes (0.46 per 1,000 people), indicating an increase from the previous year. The city's contribution to the state's total rape cases has varied, from a high of 0.26% in 2010 to a low of 0.05% in 2019, rising again to 0.13% in 2022.
Robbery trends show a general decline over the years. In 2010, there were 11 robberies (0.98 per 1,000 people), which decreased to just 2 cases in 2022 (0.18 per 1,000 people), an 81.82% reduction. The city's share of state robberies has also decreased from 0.08% in 2010 to 0.04% in 2022, indicating that robbery has become less prevalent both within the city and relative to the state.
Aggravated assault cases have shown the most significant increase among violent crimes. From 6 cases in 2010 (0.53 per 1,000 people), the number rose to 21 in 2022 (1.91 per 1,000 people), a 250% increase. The city's contribution to state aggravated assault cases has also risen from 0.05% in 2010 to 0.12% in 2022. This trend suggests that aggravated assault has become a more pressing issue for the community over time.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a relationship between the increase in violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults, and changes in the city's racial composition. The percentage of white residents decreased from 87% in 2015 to 79% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 1% to 4% during the same period. This demographic shift coincides with the rise in violent crimes, though a direct causal relationship cannot be established without further study.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it is projected that by 2029, Reading may see a slight increase in overall violent crimes if current trends continue. Aggravated assaults are likely to remain the primary concern, potentially reaching around 30 cases per year. Robberies may continue to decrease, possibly to 1-2 cases annually. Rape incidents could stabilize around 4-5 cases per year, while murders are expected to remain rare or non-existent.
In summary, Reading has experienced a complex evolution of violent crime over the past decade. While murders remain exceptionally rare and robberies have significantly decreased, the rise in aggravated assaults presents a growing challenge for the community. The changing demographic landscape may be influencing these trends, and local authorities may need to focus on addressing the factors contributing to the increase in assaults while maintaining the positive trends in other violent crime categories.
