Crime in Atlanta
Encyclopedia
Crime in Atlanta, Georgia, while above the national median
and a major problem for the city since the middle 20th century, has been declining since the late 1990s. Between 2001 and 2009 the crime rate in Atlanta dropped by 40 percent, according to the FBI. Homicide fell 57 percent. Rape was down 72 percent. Violent crime overall was down 55 percent. Atlanta’s public safety improvement has occurred at more than twice the rate of the rest of the country. Crime is down across the country, but Atlanta’s improvement has far surpassed the national trend. This relative improvement explains why Atlanta—after ranking in the top five highest crime cities for most of the previous three decades—now ranks 31st. Atlanta has lower crime than Salt Lake City, Orlando
and Tacoma, Washington
. The city is served by the Atlanta Police Department
, which has an estimated 1,700 officers working in the force. Atlanta is divided into six police zones.
At certain points in its history, Atlanta has been known for high crime rates, particularly property crime and homicides. Much of the city's crime, however, is centralized in most of its western neighborhoods and scattered neighborhoods adjacent to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. These include Grove Park
, Center Hill
, and Bankhead
, one of the most crime-infested neighborhoods of Atlanta.
, Atlanta's population began to decline. By 1990, the population was 394,017, down almost 20% from its population in 1970, which was 496,973. In addition, the city center and surrounding areas began to go through an urban decay
, and crime spiked significantly throughout the 1980s. Along with many other major cities in the United States, Atlanta was hard hit by the crack epidemic of most of the 1980s to early 1990s. In 1994, Atlanta was ranked the most dangerous city in the country by the Morgan Quitno Press. In 2007, drug-related crime in metro Atlanta
increased slightly, in part due to Atlanta becoming an important distribution center for cocaine
, and other related drugs imported from Mexico
. These increases were mostly seen in Fulton
, Gwinnett
, DeKalb
, Cobb, and Clayton
counties. Many law enforcement
agencies in the area have joined forces together with the Atlanta Police Department
in an effort to decrease the overall crime in metro Atlanta. In addition, due to large amounts of gentrification
and other revitalization
projects in the city core, crime continued to fall, even amidst the hard economic times of the late-2000s.
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
and a major problem for the city since the middle 20th century, has been declining since the late 1990s. Between 2001 and 2009 the crime rate in Atlanta dropped by 40 percent, according to the FBI. Homicide fell 57 percent. Rape was down 72 percent. Violent crime overall was down 55 percent. Atlanta’s public safety improvement has occurred at more than twice the rate of the rest of the country. Crime is down across the country, but Atlanta’s improvement has far surpassed the national trend. This relative improvement explains why Atlanta—after ranking in the top five highest crime cities for most of the previous three decades—now ranks 31st. Atlanta has lower crime than Salt Lake City, Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. The city is served by the Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
The Atlanta Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.The city shifted from its rural-based Marshal and Deputy Marshal model at the end of the 19th century. In 1873, the department was formed with 26 officers...
, which has an estimated 1,700 officers working in the force. Atlanta is divided into six police zones.
At certain points in its history, Atlanta has been known for high crime rates, particularly property crime and homicides. Much of the city's crime, however, is centralized in most of its western neighborhoods and scattered neighborhoods adjacent to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. These include Grove Park
Grove Park (Atlanta)
Grove Park is a northwest Atlanta, inside-the-perimeter neighborhood bounded by:* Center Hill on the west* Dixie Hills, West Lake, and Hunter Hills on the south* Bankhead on the east* Almond Park, West Highlands and Rockdale to the north- History :...
, Center Hill
Center Hill (Atlanta)
Center Hill is a neighborhood located in northwest Atlanta, Georgia. Center Hill is centered around Donald L. Hollowell Highway, Hamilton E. Holmes Drive, and Simpson Road.-Public:Williams Elementary SchoolBenjamin S. Carson Honors Preparatory School...
, and Bankhead
Bankhead (Atlanta)
Bankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, Washington Park and Hunter Hills to the South, Midtown West to the East and Northeast . It is also flanked by Rockdale to the Northwest. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead...
, one of the most crime-infested neighborhoods of Atlanta.
History
During the 1970s, like with many large cities within the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Atlanta's population began to decline. By 1990, the population was 394,017, down almost 20% from its population in 1970, which was 496,973. In addition, the city center and surrounding areas began to go through an urban decay
Urban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
, and crime spiked significantly throughout the 1980s. Along with many other major cities in the United States, Atlanta was hard hit by the crack epidemic of most of the 1980s to early 1990s. In 1994, Atlanta was ranked the most dangerous city in the country by the Morgan Quitno Press. In 2007, drug-related crime in metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
increased slightly, in part due to Atlanta becoming an important distribution center for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, and other related drugs imported from Mexico
Mexican Drug War
The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
. These increases were mostly seen in Fulton
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Gwinnett
Gwinnett
Gwinnett can refer to:*Button Gwinnett, signatory of the US Declaration of Independence*Gwinnett County, in the US state of Georgia*Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Gwinnett County's first non-profit performing arts troupe...
, DeKalb
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
, Cobb, and Clayton
Clayton County, Georgia
Clayton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 236,517. The 2008 Census estimate placed the population at 273,718. The county seat is Jonesboro...
counties. Many law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
agencies in the area have joined forces together with the Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
The Atlanta Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.The city shifted from its rural-based Marshal and Deputy Marshal model at the end of the 19th century. In 1873, the department was formed with 26 officers...
in an effort to decrease the overall crime in metro Atlanta. In addition, due to large amounts of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and other revitalization
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
projects in the city core, crime continued to fall, even amidst the hard economic times of the late-2000s.
Notable incidents
- Atlanta murders of 1979-1981 — A series of murders that started from the summer of 1979 and ended in the spring of 1981. Twenty children were killed in this incident.
- Atlanta Prison RiotsAtlanta Prison RiotsThe Atlanta Prison Riots were a series of riots that occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana.-Cause:On November 10, 1987, the U.S...
— A series of riots in 1987. One hundred people were made hostage and a portion of the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary was burned. - Fred Tokars — 1992 murder of Sara Tokars
- Centennial Olympic Park bombingCentennial Olympic Park bombingThe Centennial Olympic Park bombing was a terrorist bombing on July 27, 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States during the 1996 Summer Olympics, the first of four committed by Eric Robert Rudolph...
— Killed 2 people and injured 111 during the 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. - Etowah High School shootings — A 15-year-old committed suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at his economics class. - Brian NicholsBrian NicholsBrian Gene Nichols is known for his escape and killing spree in the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia on March 11, 2005. Nichols was on trial for rape when he escaped from custody and murdered the judge presiding over his trial, a court reporter, a Sheriff's Deputy and later a Federal...
— Known for 2005 escape and killing spree in the Fulton County CourthouseFulton County Courthouse (Georgia)The Fulton County Courthouse, built between 1911 and 1914, is an historic courthouse building located at 160 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta, Georgia, the Fulton county seat. It was designed by noted Atlanta-based architect A. Ten Eyck Brown , along with the Atlanta firm of Morgan and Dillon. It is...
and later killing an off-duty federal agent.