Houston is known as a hub for human and drug trafficking and mass murderers, and the chance of becoming a victim of a crime is 1 in 18, making it unsafe for citizens. It was ranked 43rd on a list of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the United States.
In 2021, there were 6,868 violent cases, and although the number now seems to have decreased, painting an optimistic picture, the city still experiences an increase in auto thefts and property crimes.
Violent crimes in Houston include four specific offenses, namely assault, rape, robbery and murder. In 2017, 25,609 violent crimes were reported in the city, with an annual crime rate of 1,107 offenses per 100,000 people. Following California, Houston has the highest rate of human trafficking. The high levels of diversity in the region make it difficult to identify victims who blend in easily with other community members, hence the staggering statistics. Drug crimes are also common, including drug possession, drug trafficking and manufacturing of drugs. The delivery of illegal drugs is also regarded as a crime in Houston, and being convicted leads to hefty fines and an extended time in prison. Charges for crimes in Houston differ depending on the type of crime committed, the defendant’s history and other relevant circumstances. Misdemeanors such as theft represent the lowest level of a criminal offense, and those accused of it often get the help of a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer to get their case dismissed. Given that crime offenses can affect both victims’ and offenders’ lives, crime prevention becomes imperative in a city where violence is so common.
During the COVID pandemic, Houston experienced increasing violent crime rates, with factors like social anxiety, mental health concerns and economic uncertainty contributing to the statistics. However, in February 2022, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner launched the One Safe Houston initiative with the goal of reducing the number of crimes in the city, and the plan has proven to be effective, with homicide and human trafficking being 27% and respectively 23% lower. The initiative also focuses on crisis intervention, providing mental health resources to prevent escalation, violence, and, ultimately, jailing.
Last year, Houston outperformed major metropolitan areas like LA, Chicago and New York, reporting significant drops in offenses. However, it would be premature to tell whether this downward trend will continue in the city. Although the number of violent crimes in Houston seems to have decreased, some council members raised concerns about the increase in crimes like robbery, rape and kidnapping in some districts. For instance, many reported cases are about people who are assaulted by someone they’ve met on a dating app. While the city does seem to go in the right direction, no one can deny the need for further improvement in terms of safety.
Overall, the city is doing a lot better than in previous years due to the collaborative effort of local, state and federal partners. However, making Houston safer is a work in progress, and it’s important to take continuous action in order to prevent an uptick in crime.
