Ohio sounds like what you might imagine average Midwesterners when they think of cornfields, educated football fans, and all the typical ideas surrounding American culture. But just like any other state Ohio also has a dark side which is considered to be the most dangerous city where people need to watch out. To get the lowdown on identifying where the most dangerous cities in Ohio are located, I downloaded accurate data from the FBI as we have a huge 3-year sample set that covers all states–not one survey.

Below is a list of some of the most dangerous cities in Ohio

1. Cleveland

They included violent crime which has been estimated to be 1,557 per 100,000 inhabitants and this puts Cleveland at the top of the most dangerous cities in Ohio. The city has been working hard for years to retain its so-called ‘high-crime neighborhood’ label. Aggravated assault, robbery, and rape are the frequent violent crimes that occur in Cleveland. They recorded slightly over 5,000 cases of property crime per 100000 persons in the city, which is fairly high.

2. Toledo

Toledo is now ranked second only to Akron with a violent crime rate of 1238 per 100,000 of the population. Other mishaps include; Violence increased in 2020 after several years of reduction which came as a shock to the city administrators and the residents. This type of violent crime is on the higher side at nearly 70%, and it is referred to as aggravated assault.

3. Canton

Canton is next with 690 violent crimes per 100,000 part-timers. Over the past decade, city officials have initiated several programs aimed at steering high-risk youth away from involvement in criminal activity.

4. Youngstown

Youngstown has violent crimes per 100,000 residents of 611, and that puts it in the fourth position on this list. Gang killings and other acts of violence account for closer to 20% of the total violent crimes in the city. Leaders persist in their fight against violent crime in Youngstown and go on implementing community policing strategies.

5. Springfield

The city of Springfield also features in the list of the five most dangerous cities in Ohio with a violent crime level of 528 per 100,000. Approximately 58% of such occurrences stem from aggravated assault. As for the property crime rate, it is even higher in Springfield, 7702 per 100,000, which is 49 % more than the average for the United States.

Conclusive Reasons For High Crime Rates In These Cities

There are various reasons as to why the crime rate is higher in cities like Cleveland, Toledo, and Canton as compared to other regions in Ohio, and these are majorly influenced by socioeconomic factors. Some key reasons include:

Poverty: Violent crime rates have a direct correlation with poverty in the cities, with some cities having 3 times the overall poverty rate of Ohio. P63: Crime arises from financial problems, inadequate resources, and poor income distribution.

  • Open unemployment- poverty is also an influential factor since it forces people into criminal activities due to a lack of other sources of income.
  • Urbanization & Blight - Places that have a high density of buildings and populated areas have more items for the criminals to target and more chances to commit their evil doings. Urbanization also leads to poor social interaction and low community policing which are deterrents to crime. Another disadvantage of urban blight is that it encourages crime The following are some of the reasons why crime occurs due to urban blight:
  • Gangs – Violence stemming from gang activity and rivalry in selling drugs contribute significantly to the overall number of homicides and gunshot victims, especially in cities such as Cleveland and Youngstown.
  • Lack of Resources in Cities- The schools, youth programs, and policing in these cities are severely underfunded which hampers the ability of these places to affect the cycle of crime and help the community.
  • Family Instability – Any child who grows up in a single-parent home or a child who has undergone abuse, is most likely to get involved in criminal activities at a later age, thus continuing the cyclic rounds.

What types of crimes are most frequent?

Nevertheless, other sorts of crimes such as burglaries, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson are still common despite not causing as much bodily harm. People from cities such as Springfield, Cleveland, and Toledo constantly face different rates of property crimes significantly higher compared to state and national statistics.

Ohio citizens can therefore not afford to be negligent in the fight against violent crime and property crime regardless of the city or town they are in. As much as it is important to stay safe and protect oneself, basic precaution measures play a vital role; for instance, the ability to avoid poorly lit areas in urban centers at night, and ensuring cars and homes are locked and alarmed, among others.

Here are some ways you can enhance your safety:

Wherever you are in Ohio state, there are certain individual safety measures that you must develop to minimize your chances of falling prey to a criminal. 

  • Ensure all the doors leading to the house and all the windows are closed and locked when within the house and more especially when outside.
  • The next step is to put in place a good home security system that will have the capacity to have cameras and alarms.
  • Adequate lighting with motion sensors should be installed in the compound to ensure that there is sufficient lighting in the evening and night.
  • For better security purposes, there should be deadbolts on doors that lead to the outside.
  • Keep exterior lights turned on at night
  • If your phone gets lost or stolen, install a tracking app that can locate your lost phone.
  • Be cautious when you are in public places and keep off such places especially the ones that are dark and desolate.
  • Pepper spray should be taken along when walking alone just in case of a need to use it as a defense.
  • Do not try to argue with aggressive strangers when confrontation occurs.
  • Do not leave valuable items inside any vehicle, and ensure all vehicles are locked at all times
  • As a contingency plan, you may wish to join a self-defense class to be more equipped to protect yourself.
  • Do not drink and drive when going out at the end of the week and during the weekends in nightclubs, bars, etc.
  • If you believe there is a crime taking place or if you have become a victim contact 911 as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, due to the reality that when each other city in Ohio is broken down into neighborhoods we may not find such fucking amazing places on earth (and this does include China and India), there are members of larger cities including Cleveland which has a moderately high crime rate relative to its neighbors [8]. The specific crime rates in Ohio’s cities illustrate the needs and opportunities, therefore, knowing the key factors which influence these urban crime rates, makes Ohio citizens able to address the problem. Further, the protection measures put in place also ensure that people throughout the state can avoid being victims as much as possible regardless of where they live: the major metropolitan areas or small rural communities. Maintaining vigilance and readiness for the advent of criminal activity will increase the likelihood of protecting Ohio citizens and guests.