Crime in Portsmouth, Ohio - How Bad?

HomeSurfer.com offers home buyers online information about real estate all over the country. Information includes reports about schools, agents, and crime in an area. The HomeSurfer Real Estate Encyclopedia is a great way to learn about real estate with a glossary of over 3,000 real estate terms and definitions. The information used in this blog entry comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Rate database for 2008. More information about the rating system is available on the site at

http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=OH&area=Portsmouth

Overall Crime Rating For Portsmouth, Ohio

According to HomeSurfer. com, Portsmouth, Ohio has an overall crime rating of "0.5 out of a possible 5 total points." That is one-half of 1 on a scale of 5. Higher ratings indicate the area is safer. The HomeSurfer crime rating is calculated depending on how the crime rate in the city compares with crime in the state and the nation. Violent crime is weighed more heavily than property crime, and the national ranking is more important than the state ranking.  

In 2004, the rating was 0.2, an even higher less safe rating.

Violent Crime In Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Ohio has a violent crime rate of 569 incidents per 100,000 people. This compares with a rate of 524 in Ohio and a rate of 676 nationally. Lower numbers are better, indicating that fewer crimes happen per person in the population. 

"Portsmouth, Ohio is in the 94% percentile rank in the state for Violent Crime. It is in the 82% percentile rank nationally. Lower numbers are better. 

In this case, 94% of cities in Ohio have crime rates equal to or lower than Portsmouth, or said another way, 6% of cities in Ohio have crime rates higher than Portsmouth."

In 2004, Portsmouth, Ohio was in the 95% percentile rank in the state for Violent Crime. It was in the 94% percentile rank nationally. Some improvement has been shown.

Property Crime In Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Ohio has a property crime rate of 10203.1 incidents per 100,000 people. This compares with an average rate of 4331.2 in Ohio and an average rate of 3727 incidents per 100,000 nationally. Lower numbers are better, indicating that fewer crimes happen per person in the population. This means that Portsmouth property crimes rank 99 in the state percentile rank and 99 in the national percentile rank. 

In 2004, Portsmouth, Ohio had a property crime rate of 14869.9 incidents per 100,000 people. This compared with an average rate of 4967.0 in Ohio and an average rate of 4296 incidents per 100,000 nationally.

 

Review crime rate data for Portsmouth, Ohio

Crime	Portsmouth	OH	Nation
Violent Crime Total	568.8	523.9	676
Murder / NNH	10.0	7.4	6.5
Forcible Rape	39.9	51.0	31.1
Robbery Rate	299.4	261.4	197.4
Aggravated Assault	219.5	204.0	315
Property Crime Total	10203.1	4331.2	3726.9
Burglary	2804.0	1167.6	812.3
Larceny Theft	7089.8	2806.9	2541.6
Motor Vehicle Theft	309.3	356.8	382.3
Arson	15.0	48.3	23.

As you can see, Portsmouth, Ohio (population around 20,000) suffers from a crime wave. To me, this indicates serious problems of under staffing and lack of money to update better methods of enforcement. I realize this entry is only one source of information about the town, but the statistics are, indeed, frightening.

Home to an ever-expanding college, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth is also a town filled with a large number of poor people, unemployed individuals, drug addicts and vacant properties. Scioto County, home to Portsmouth, ranks in the top ten counties of the nation in illegal prescription drug distribution. Currently, legislation is pending in Columbus to relieve some of the problems of the pain clinic abuse. Many wonder if law enforcement personnel numbers are sufficient to implement further improvement of measures to reduce crime rates.

The town is divided among those who wish to work on only a few of the myriad difficulties that face it. It is a seat of government divided. People seem to ignore the vital realization that some prioritizing of devastating causes of the poor condition of the area is essential to tackling the reality of issues that most negatively effect its image. On one hand, the town desires employment and jobs while on the other hand it accepts decline and addiction as just a part of the Appalachian fate.

Who would be attracted to such a community? Older, retired people could since natural resources and a slower pace of life is offered in the many hills and parks. Those who want a deal on real estate could. The housing costs are low and the tax rates are reasonable. But, who wants to live in a neighborhood where your possessions may be stolen or where you may have a dealer living next door or where your child has a legitimate opportunity to become a drug addict or being attacked by a thug?

I, for one, would love to see an increase in police enforcement. Better facilities and increased numbers of officers are desperately needed. I would like to see the courts, law enforcement, city government, county government, education and the faith-based community work together to establish safety and educational programs. The question of money and priorities must be addressed. AND, THESE THINGS MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, NO EXCUSES!

Money, money, money -- everyone knows the rich in the town support their causes; however, how much big money support do they give to common, basic preamble guarantees? Segregation, graft, intimidation, desire for personal gain, questionable fraternalism, and just plain public indifference fog Portsmouth, Ohio. Some walk on the empty, aging sidewalks like lost spirits through their own personal ghost town.  

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

I wonder how long it has been since Portsmouth has lived up to this basis of American purposes and principles of citizenry.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."