While it remains evident that Hawaii has been regarded as one of the safest states in the US; characterized by low violent crime rate, different studies have demonstrated that some time back, this state continued to have one of the highest total crime rates, mainly because of high property crime rates. However, in accordance with recent reports by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), there has been a considerable decrease in the violent crime rate ever since its early 1990s crest (Pyrooz et al, 2016). Hawaii has in the past years been observed to attract a great number of people wanting to relocate and begin a new life; some of the determinants behind this relocation being high crime rates in their former states and widespread poverty, plus Hawaii’s high concentration of cultural and entertainment attractions, affordable housing and low unemployment.
Generally, Hawaii currently stands as the 38th most dangerous state, when it comes to violent crime such as murder, robbery, rape and aggravated assault. Unlike in many other states in the US, which measure crime rates by city, Hawaii is known to collect its crime data county by county. In a 2016 report, referred as the Crime in Hawaii, which was published by the state Attorney General’s office, it was noted that Honolulu County accounted for a significant 69.8% of the state’s population and approximately the same percentage of crime. Of all the crimes in 2015, property crimes accounted for 92.7% while violent crimes accounted for 7.3% (Pyrooz et al, 2016).
Moreover, of the violent crimes that were reported in 2015, aggravated assault accounted for 49.6%, robbery accounting for 36.8% and rape accounted for 13% while murder accounted only for 0.6% (Pyrooz et al, 2016). The murder rate in the year 2015 was the lowest in the entire state, with only fifteen murder cases reported. Imperatively, property crime rate has been going down almost every year since the 26.1% in 2006. While the city enjoys a low-crime state in regard to violence, of all the index offenses, larceny has remained the only offense that the city has consistently had a higher crime rate compared with the entire nation ever since 1975 (Dillon, 2014). Furthermore, burglary and auto theft rates have sometimes been lower and sometimes higher compared with the national average. The burglary rate of the City and County of Honolulu measured the lowest in Hawaii and even the lowest in the entire nation.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Honolulu’s Crime Rate
3. Description of Honolulu’s Crime Prevalence using Crime Theories
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This report aims to analyze the current crime statistics in Honolulu, Hawaii, by examining trends in violent and property crimes while addressing the impact of the significant tourist population on the accuracy of reported crime rates.
- Analysis of violent and property crime trends in Honolulu.
- Evaluation of socioeconomic factors and crime theories influencing local criminal activity.
- Investigation of the discrepancy between resident population and 'de facto' population in crime data.
- Assessment of the impact of visitor numbers on skewed crime rate statistics.
Excerpt from the Book
Honolulu’s Crime Rate
Generally, Hawaii currently stands as the 38th most dangerous state, when it comes to violent crime such as murder, robbery, rape and aggravated assault. Unlike in many other states in the US, which measure crime rates by city, Hawaii is known to collect its crime data county by county. In a 2016 report, referred as the Crime in Hawaii, which was published by the state Attorney General’s office, it was noted that Honolulu County accounted for a significant 69.8% of the state’s population and approximately the same percentage of crime. Of all the crimes in 2015, property crimes accounted for 92.7% while violent crimes accounted for 7.3% (Pyrooz et al, 2016).
Moreover, of the violent crimes that were reported in 2015, aggravated assault accounted for 49.6%, robbery accounting for 36.8% and rape accounted for 13% while murder accounted only for 0.6% (Pyrooz et al, 2016). The murder rate in the year 2015 was the lowest in the entire state, with only fifteen murder cases reported. Imperatively, property crime rate has been going down almost every year since the 26.1% in 2006. While the city enjoys a low-crime state in regard to violence, of all the index offenses, larceny has remained the only offense that the city has consistently had a higher crime rate compared with the entire nation ever since 1975 (Dillon, 2014). Furthermore, burglary and auto theft rates have sometimes been lower and sometimes higher compared with the national average. The burglary rate of the City and County of Honolulu measured the lowest in Hawaii and even the lowest in the entire nation.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the shifts in Hawaii's crime landscape, noting a decrease in violent crime since the 1990s and identifying demographic and economic factors attracting new residents.
2. Honolulu’s Crime Rate: Examines specific statistics for Honolulu County, highlighting the prevalence of property crimes over violent crimes and the relatively low murder rate.
3. Description of Honolulu’s Crime Prevalence using Crime Theories: Explores how economic models and demographic changes, such as the aging population and increased tourism, help explain the current state of crime in Honolulu.
4. Conclusion: Argues that official crime rates in Honolulu may be statistically overstated due to the failure to account for the 'de facto' visitor population in data calculations.
Keywords
Honolulu, Crime Statistics, Violent Crime, Property Crime, Hawaii, De Facto Population, Tourists, Crime Prevalence, Economic Theory, Demographic Shift, Larceny, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Public Safety, Crime Data Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this publication?
The document provides an analysis of crime statistics in Honolulu, Hawaii, evaluating both violent and property crime trends.
What are the main thematic areas covered in this report?
The report covers crime rate trends, the application of economic crime theories, the impact of demographic shifts, and the influence of visitor populations on statistical accuracy.
What is the central research question?
The core objective is to understand the nature of crime prevalence in Honolulu and to determine whether official statistics accurately reflect the reality given the city's unique tourist-heavy demographics.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The report relies on a descriptive analysis of existing crime data from the state Attorney General’s office, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), and relevant sociological and economic theoretical frameworks.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body details specific crime breakdowns, such as the ratio of property versus violent crime, and applies economic theories to explain criminal behavior related to fiscal motivation.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as crime statistics, de facto population, Honolulu, economic theory, and public safety.
How does the 'de facto' population affect the crime rates in Honolulu?
The report argues that crime rates are skewed because they are calculated based on the resident population only, ignoring the large number of tourists and military personnel who contribute to the 'de facto' population.
What is the significance of the larceny rate in Honolulu?
Larceny is highlighted as the only offense for which Honolulu has consistently maintained a higher crime rate compared to the national average since 1975.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Mutinda Jackson (Author), 2017, Crime Statistics for Honolulu, Hawaii, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/703270
