America's Most Violent Cities

Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities:
#1 Detroit, Mich.
Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich., metropolitan statistical area
Population: 1,951,186
Violent Crimes per 100,000: 1,220

#2 Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark. metropolitan statistical area
Population: 1,295,670
Violent Crimes per 100,000: 1,218

#3 Miami, Fla.
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla. metropolitan statistical area
Population: 2,401,971
Violent Crimes per 100,000: 988

#4 Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev., metropolitan statistical area
Population: 1,834,533
Violent Crimes per 100,000: 887

#5 Stockton, Calif.
Stockton, Calif., metropolitan statistical area
Population: 684,406

Violent Crimes per 100,000: 885In March 2008, Kwame Kilpatrick was charged with eight felonies, including perjury and obstruction of justice. In August, he violated his bail agreement and was thrown in jail. His actions were deplorable for anybody, but Kilpatrick was no Average Joe–he was the mayor of Detroit.

Unfortunately for the Motor City, Kilpatrick, 38, is just one ripple in the area’s sea of crime. Detroit is the worst offender on our list of America’s most dangerous cities, thanks to a staggering rate of 1,220 violent crimes committed per 100,000 people.

“Detroit has, historically, been one of the more violent cities in the U.S.,” says Megan Wolfram, an analyst at iJet Intelligent Risk Systems, a Maryland-based risk-assessment firm. “They have a number of local crime syndicates there–a number of small gangs who tend to compete over territory.” source

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