Breaking away from the spate of quotes by and about Dear Leader, LouisianaVoice must devote attention to its singular purpose: reporting on events others don’t. (Not to worry: the daily submission of quips and quotes will continue unabated.)
But first, it is of sufficient importance to note that Louisiana has reached the pinnacle (or abyss, as the case may be) of yet another ranking of states which, it must be said, leaves the state pretty rank, standout performances on the football field by its LSU and Saints football teams notwithstanding.
How do these rankings hit you?
- Most Violent State?
- Highest Murder Rate in America?
- Highest Firearm Murder Rate in the U.S.?
- New Orleans with the Most Gun Violence of Any U.S. City?
If you’re surprised, you shouldn’t be. Louisiana, which had temporarily ceded the claim to the Highest Incarceration Rate in the World to Oklahoma, has regained that title, along with the third-highest poverty rate in the U.S.
These latest figures come to us courtesy of 24/7 Wall Street, the Delaware-based news and opinion company that publishes more than 30 articles per day on government, business, and personalities.
For the full 24/7 Wall Street report, click HERE.
Two years ago, 24/7 Wall Street published a survey that listed Louisiana as the worst-run state in the nation based in part on its 2016 unemployment rate of 6.1 percent (third highest) and its poverty rate of 20.2 (second highest).
The state’s poverty rate has dropped to 18.6 percent, according to 24/7 Wall Street, which was third-highest in the nation—and not a figure to be included on chamber of commerce brochures.
Despite its designation as the city with the most gun violence in the U.S., it was not New Orleans but Opelousas that was tagged as the state’s most dangerous city. That’s probably because with a smaller population, any fluctuation in crime figures, no matter how small, would have a major impact on the incidence rate per 100,000 population.
The figures on violent crime (rape, robbery, aggravated assault and murder) are based on 2018 statistics, the most recent data available and they show the U.S. violent crime rate was 381 incidents per 100,000 population. Louisiana, by contrast had a violent crime rate of 537.5 per 100,000, or 41 percent higher than the national rate.
There were 530 murders in Louisiana in 2018, far fewer than number-one California (1,739), second-ranked Texas (1,322), third-place Florida (1,107), or number-four Illinois (884), but far higher than Vermont, the lowest with only 10 murders, or second-lowest South Dakota (12), third-lowest Wyoming with 13, or next-door neighbor Mississippi (23rd lowest with 171).
Despite having only one-third the number of murders as Louisiana, Mississippi’s incarceration rate of 812 adults per 100,000 population ranked third behind number-two Oklahoma (931 per 100,000) and Louisiana’s 942 per 100,000.
Residents of Baton Rouge might challenge figures that show New Orleans with the Louisiana city with the most gun violence in 2018. Statistics show that there were 87 people gunned down in Baton Rouge in 2018, a 17.6 percent drop from the historic high of 106 in 2017, the year Baton Rouge’s homicide rate exceeded that of Chicago.
Still, for a state that prides itself as a tourist destination, designation as the most violent state, the highest murder rate, highest firearm murder rate, and home to the city with the most gun violence in the U.S., tourism could become a tough sale.
Louisiana Voice 
I don’t think we have enough in jail and we need to address juvenile criminals. These kids know they will not go to jail so they do as they will. This cannot continue unabated.
Has anyone else noticed that Zoe seems to have an answer for every problem and her solutions invariably involve dumping on those less fortunate and benefiting the wealthy?
Will not go to jail? Zoe, have you checked out the Orleans Parish Juvenile Detention Center lately? You don’t think we have enough in jail? With all the non-violent offenders in prison today, Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the world. How much higher would you have us go? Have you ever looked at the cost of housing prisoners? Sometimes you present well-reasoned positions. Other times, you come off as some kind of simplistic knee-jerk reactionary.
How about we address leadership and how we get leadership? Does Louisiana foster and reward the type of leadership that is without the taint of political corruption? Does Louisiana demand leadership that is not subject to political corruption or do we just take it for granted that “this is just the way Louisiana has always been?” Do we, as citizens, demand a voice in our government decisions local, parish and state wide? Or, do we just “go with the flow”, complaining but unwilling to seek out and support the better candidates (regardless of Party) that will vow to correct all of our problems? Perhaps this is a time for individual Louisiana citizens to ask….”What can we do individually and collectively to change things for the better?”
AMEN, Edith!!!!
As all good Texans know, the best way to reduce crime in one’s state is to put more guns into the hands of more people [note: this is a satire, not necessarily good satire, but satire, nonetheless].
great comments Ms. Herring and Mr. Winham, however Trumpites are incapable of questioning themselves or the motives of their Chosen one .If you are a Trumpite, you start each day with I,, tell a LIE, praise your bank account,
dream of Mar Largo, and be cool while provoking a war with the rest of world. And blame Obama and past leaders for being losers. So, we must keep trying, and I that word again I will never “get over it”. We shall overcome. love always ron thompson
A dirty little secret about housing juveniles is that it costs $287 per day to house them. The little towns and cities cannot afford to pay this. Although post abjudication the OJJ will pick up half the cost-for pre abjudication detention, the municipality must foot the entire bill. The Judges have been instructed” by the Supreme Court not to place a juvenile in detention unless absolutely necessary for the safety of the community (read unless he is dripping blood from the victim)= he ain’t going to be detained)/ this is the Juvenile justice reform that you keep Hearing all about. .And when July 1 2020 rolls around and the age is 18 for ALL crimes including crimes of violence it is gonna get real VERY fast.Incarceration costs money and as we all know money is what drives thew train for everything that happens in government. This is stuff they don;t want the general public to know about. Trust me of this one-I work in the business.
Question: Is the reason no one mentions “the school-to-prison-pipeline” because it’s tacit in every juvenile justice conversation?
Or because it’s not accepted?
Crappiest schools============================> I-10 to prison
Do not tell me it is ‘their fault’ or it is ‘their parental unit(s)’s fault”.
Louisiana citizens & its elected members of Congress, in its current unwillingness to RECTIFY racial bigotry and REQUIRE CONSEQUENCES for hate crimes (via INSURRECTION), at the highest level of our government, are once again sending the message to people of color in this country that their LIVES and LIVELIHOODS do not matter. White Supremacy & White Power IS what this is all about, and that’s ok to our local and US congresspersons and their constituents.
And at home, crappy schools are crappy, and kids get routed straight to incarceration at rates that are unconstitutional, because of pre-existing laws & new laws in all areas (Education, Health, Welfare, Criminal Law, etc.) created and maintained by beliefs and actions of White Supremacists at all levels of power in this state.
Do not tell me it is ‘their fault’ or it is ‘their parental unit(s)’s fault”.
Opportunities to what exactly in this state? Opportunities to be second class citizens? Opportunities to have a substandard education? Opportunities to be targeted by police on the ground and lawmakers in the air? Opportunities to live in food deserts or toxic environmental communities?
Opportunities we expect are there for all, but all only means ALL of us white or wealthy folks. Bread crumbs that fall from our tables are not opportunity. Lower sales taxes in this state, RAISED corporate taxes AND individual property taxes in this state are required as an investment in our state’s commitment to OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
ABDELL