July 30, 2024
Houston is one of the country’s fastest-growing major cities and many people move here every year to enjoy all it has to offer. However, with growth comes crime and Houston, Texas, has seen a rise in violent and property crime recently. The city’s murder rate has received national attention and is something many visitors want to know about. You can learn more about the crime rate in Houston below.
If you have been charged with a crime, ensure you retain a skilled criminal defense attorney. The Napier Law Firm has an impressive record helping Houstonians accused of a crime. Lead attorney George Napier has cultivated an outstanding record of criminal defense in recent years, and he looks forward to assisting you.
Houston Violent Crime Rate Overview
The FBI reports that Houston, Texas, is the fourth most dangerous city in the US regarding violent crimes. However, crime in Houston has improved somewhat recently. Interestingly, there have been several reports in the Houston metropolitan area stating that the violent and property crime rate has dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the nation. In June 2023, the city’s police chief noted that the violent crime rate in Houston had plunged 12%, and he also claimed that Houston’s overall crime rate had decreased by 6% and is below the national average.
Recent statistics show that property crime and auto theft in Houston, Texas, has increased by 14% as of January 2024, while burglaries have climbed by 2%. On the plus side, the Houston crime rate has dropped in the following areas in the last two years, below the national average in some instances:
- Murder: Decreased by 27%
- Kidnapping: Decreased by 19%
- Aggravated assault: Decreased by 12%
- Theft: Decreased by 10%
- Robbery: Decreased by 10%
- Rape: Decreased by 6%
- Human trafficking: Decreased by 23%
Many people believe that the mayor’s actions reduced violent and property crime rates compared to the national average. At the same time, others credit a more proactive Houston police department. Former Mayor Sylvester Turner initiated the One Safe Houston plan to reduce the city’s violent crime rate.
One of the former mayor’s successes was the decrease in the murder rate. In 2023, the murder rate in Houston was 19 per 100,000 residents, totaling 348 homicides. This was a significant decrease from 2022 when there were 434 murders. As of early 2024, there had been 18 murders in the city, while a year earlier, there had been 17 murders.
How The Houston Violent Crime Rate Affects Residents And Businesses
Ex-Mayor Turner’s One Safe Houston Texas Initiative reduced the city’s crime rate; however, when Houston held its mayoral election in 2023, crime was still a major issue, and John Whitmire became the new mayor.
While there has been considerable progress made in reducing violent crime in Houston, many residents still feel more work needs to be done in the Houston area. Some residents believe that the media tends to focus on negative crime stories in certain parts of the city. Even if crime rates in Houston have dropped overall, there is still a public perception that the city is unsafe. Property crimes are also still a problem.
One of the new mayor’s solutions for potentially reducing violent crime rates further in many neighborhoods is getting repeated violent offenders off the streets and in court. In January 2024, Whitmire stated that there were 900 people on the loose in Houston with capital murder or murder charges pending. His goal is to prioritize criminal trials that focus on murder and capital murder charges. The mayor is also investing resources into hiring more officers for the Houston, TX police department, which struggles to fill vacancies.
How To Stay Safe In Houston, TX
Statistically, the neighborhoods in Houston, TX, are not among the country’s safest areas in terms of crimes. However, progress has been made since the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, higher crime rates in Houston are mainly because of specific neighborhoods. If residents or visitors avoid the city’s most dangerous locations, they will probably be safe. The FBI states that some of the more dangerous neighborhoods in Houston to be aware of are:
- Sunnyside: The most common crimes are robbery, assaults, and rapes
- Sharpstown: Violent gun crimes there are 67% higher than in other parts of Houston
- MacGregor: This is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the US
- Far North: Violent crimes in this area of Houston occur at 2,455 incidents per 100,000 people
- Greenspoint: The Houston police department has invested considerable resources here but the violent crime rate is still stubbornly high
- East End: The violent crime rate in this part of town is 100% higher than the US average
Regardless of where you live or visit in Houston, Texas, you can be unfairly arrested and charged with crimes. If that has happened to you, the criminal justice system will work tirelessly to convict you. They aggressively prosecute people for violent crimes and property crimes. You need to fight back with a tenacious Houston criminal defense lawyer. Our attorneys offer a free consultation and will lay out your criminal defense options.
About The Napier Law Firm
The Napier Law Firm is recognized as one of Houston’s leading criminal defense law firms. If you are accused of a crime in Houston, you can rely on the Napier Law Firm. Lead criminal defense attorney George Napier has extensive legal knowledge, specializing in criminal defense, expunctions, and non-disclosures.
Attorney Napier is committed to representing criminal defense clients in Houston, Harris County, and neighboring counties. He received the Award For Excellence in Trial four times in Montgomery County and you can rely on him for a robust and effective criminal defense for violent crimes and other crimes.
It’s critical to have the best defense when charged with a Houston, TX crime. Some potential punishments for a Texas criminal conviction include:
- Class A misdemeanor: This is the most serious misdemeanor, and you can receive up to a year in jail and a fine of $4,000.
- State jail felony: You may receive six months to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Third-degree felony: You can receive 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
- Second-degree felony: This is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
- First-degree felony: Punishable by 5 to 99 years in prison or life. A fine of up to $10,000 is possible.
Speak To A Houston Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Houston crime is generally on the decline, meaning progress is being made. However, if you have been charged with a crime in Houston, TX, it’s serious. Texas has strict anti-crime laws and you will face dire consequences if convicted.
Fortunately, you can rely on the Napier Law Firm to safeguard your rights and offer the most robust defense. Whether you have been charged with a violent, property, or other crime, our attorneys can help immediately. Call our criminal defense attorney, George Napier, today at (713) 352-1496 for a free consultation about your case.