Every year, when the rankings of states with low crime rates come out, Maine is the number one, two, or three for the lowest crime rate and the lowest violent crime rate in the United States. Maine is located in the New England region of the United States. It is known for its rugged coastline, fishing villages, and amazing lighthouses. If you’re looking for a safe state to call home, New Hampshire is the place for you. Maine’s reputation as one of the safest states in the U.S. will be explored in this article. Many reasons result in the low crime rate in Maine
Small Population
Firstly, Maine has a relatively small population compared to many other states. They have just over1,393,442 million residents, making it the 41st most populous state. It’s also ranked 39th in the area. When you put those numbers together, that makes them 38th in population density. With 43 people per square mile, that’s not much. New Jersey’s number one, they have 12163 people per square mile. In some of the other states that I know you’re going to ask about, Florida has 402 for every square mile. Massachusetts has 901. California has 254 people per square mile, and that’s a huge state. And yes, Alaska is the absolute lowest with 1.3 people for every square mile. Now this helps give them a lower crime rate compared to the most populous states. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report program, Maine’s crime rate in 20/20 was 1635 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national average of 3450 incidents for every 100,000 residents. Most crime problems come from having too many people living nearby. More people means more problems.
Sense of Togetherness
Maine is known for its strong sense of community and social cohesion. Many towns in Maine are close-knit and residents tend to look out for each other. If you grew up in a small town or rural community, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Social cohesion and a sense of community create a culture of trust and accountability where people are more likely to report suspicious activity or crimes they witness. In big cities, you might see a crime happen directly in front of you, but you’re on your way to a coffee cafe, and that’s more important than reporting something or helping someone out. On top of all that, Maine has a high rate of community involvement in local government and civic affairs, which fosters a sense of responsibility among the residents. It’s like they have a vested interest in their town, in their state. So basically they care more about their communities.
Low Poverty Rate
Maine has a relatively low poverty rate compared to other states. Poverty can be a significant factor in driving crime rates. Individuals living in poverty are more likely to engage in criminal activity as a means of survival and to escape whatever circumstances they’re in. Human beings are like that and go back to when we were living in caves and following the herds. If you can’t survive, you start taking more risks, traveling further distances, things like that. It’s just a thing we have in our DNA that makes us do things to survive or get out of the situation we’re in. Maine’s poverty rate in 20/20 was 10.8%, which is lower than the national average of 11.8% during the same period. That suggests that residents in Maine have better access to necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare, reducing the likelihood that they’re going to turn to criminal activities to get things paid, to be fed, and to take care of themselves.
Proactive Law Enforcement System
Maine has a strong law enforcement system that prioritizes community policing and preventative measures. They’re not reactionary, they’re focusing on preventative and proactive measures. Just about every process, from military to medicine to policing, should be done that way. You’re trying to fix the problem before it happens. Keep in mind, that Maine doesn’t have an overwhelmingly large police presence. They have 400 and attend law enforcement employees per every 100,000 residents. Now it’s just not the officers on the streets. That’s the people that stand behind them. You know, clerks, dispatchers, things like that. Give you an example of some other states. New York has 627 for every 100,000 residents. Maryland has 615, and Virginia has 593. And on the other side of the coin, you got Oregon with 281 for every 100,000 residents. Utah has 295 S. They’re not just flooding the street with cops to keep the crime rate down. They have some good programs, good people, and a lot of well-trained police officers or state troopers or deputy sheriffs, whatever they have out there just talking to law enforcement. This has helped in reducing the crime rate.
Climate Condition
Maine’s geography and climate play a big part in the low crime rate. The state’s rural nature and harsh winter weather can deter a lot of criminal activity outside of major cities. When you look at a small town or city you will observe that crime rates drop drastically during cold weather. According to the Bureau of Justice and Statistics, almost all types of personal and household crimes are more likely to occur during the warmer months of the year. Statistical studies show uniformly that crimes against property drop slightly in the winter months and crimes against persons go up drastically in the summer months.
Statistical studies show uniformly that crimes against property drop slightly in the winter months, and crimes against persons go up drastically in the summer months. Another statistic showed that the violent crime rate rose on average 6% on days when the temperature was above 85°. So you’re safer in cold weather from other humans. It’s not just the weather patterns that help keep the crime rate down in Maine. The rugged terrain and dense forest can also make it more challenging for criminals to navigate and evade law enforcement. This, as you can imagine, makes Maine a less attractive target for criminals who may prefer more urban or temperate environments.