6 Reasons why New Bedford has high crime and how to reduce it (Part 1)

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According to New Bedford’s mayor Jon Mitchell crime is down 10% in New Bedford. While I’m sure the statistics are accurate, a lot of people find it hard to believe. My guess is that when crime is so high, a 10% drop really isn’t that noticeable, especially for those that still live in high crime areas.

Let’s look at some of the data available to the public. According to city-data.com, in 2013, there were 6 murders, 100 rapes, 256 robberies, 677 assaults, 916 burglaries, 2,186 thefts, 335 auto thefts and 20 arsons in New Bedford. That’s roughly a rape every 3 days, 2 assaults a day and a car stolen every day. Looking even deeper into the numbers, New Bedford has three times the violent crime rate (632 rating vs. 203 rating) than the average U.S. city and those numbers have been consistent for a decade.

Why is does New Bedford have high crime and how can we reduce crime even more than 10%? In order to come up with solutions you need to know the problems.

new-bedford-assaults-statistics
Source: city-data.com
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About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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12 comments

  1. Try looking at education vs crime rate. PHDs don’t have a high crime rate.

  2. I totally agree with your assessment of the problems that are going on,I also agree with the solution you have proposed. Massachusetts is one of the only states tgatvyou can repeatedly commit crimes and they don’t throw the book at you

  3. Mary Anne Letourneau

    Disregard for natural law, in other words the law of the Creator. In Judaism and Christianity, it is manifested in the 10 Commandments. But, more than that, we no longer acknowledge Him. Churches, specifically Catholic ones in this once-Catholic city, have been closing for lack of interest and lack of genuine leadership. We are no longer raising our own children or even marrying before we have them. Christians who desire to exercise true charity have their money extorted from their paychecks by the government. At least those Christians (and other denominations) who actually seek out and hold jobs in this city. Those are some of the reasons that go deeper than those mentioned above.

    • I agree Mary Ann, people aren’t raising their children with religion and they’ve taken religion out of our schools! Parenting is also to blame. Parents aren’t disciplining their children! I have 3 and they’re good kids/adults. I raised them to be respectful, not enough people do that anymore.

  4. I think I know how to solve the problem. I have 1st hand experience on heroin abuse. My adopted son is a heroin user now back in jail for OUI and larceny. We have tried everything to help him for the past 15 years (therapy, rehabs, al anon…u name it). I even sectioned him twice! Then he got his g/f pregnant and i thought “well now he will clean up”., Wrong!!! He was escalating. He wants to clean up in the worse way but doesn’t think it will get him anywhere….”who’s going to hire me, Mom” he always says. He feels he has no reason to clean up. And jail doesn’t do a thing for him…he is back for his third time., I said “what would it take to clean up, son?” At that point he said, I need a trade so I can maybe get a good job.” (we sent him to two colleges and he never attended at 18 so he dropped out)

    Sherrif Hodgson needs to implement training programs for drug offenders within the jail system. Sure, it may cost money initially, but I bet it will reduce the rate of recidivism that now exists. Let them work or learn a trade, feel proud of themselves and move on. What is the old Shawmut diner doing now??

    • Justin Rodriques

      You’re 100% right. Government subsidized jobs for people with records and addicts would make a huge difference. It has been done in other countries and the results speak for themselves.

    • The sheriff has it it was donated to him. He was telling everyone he was going to use it to help inmates job skills in restaurant’s I know this because I work there from 2013-2015 I would like to talk to the sheriff to give him some ideas on trades. Some inmates with machanic skills work on the sheriff vans,cars,tow truck all sheriff vehicles known fact because I worked there. Mikey

    • Michael Goncalves

      The sheriff has it it was donated to him. He was telling everyone he was going to use it to help inmates job skills in restaurant’s I know this because I work there from 2013-2015 I would like to talk to the sheriff to give him some ideas on trades. Some inmates with machanic skills work on the sheriff vans,cars,tow truck all sheriff vehicles known facts because I worked there. Mike

  5. There needs to be stronger punshiments for addicts who commit crimes & better programs in the jails so when they get out they have a chance to live a clean life but it’s not allows the Dr’s fault & people have to stop blaming them. Some people just become addicts because they become addicts no Dr’s involved.

  6. You got a good point but every city has its issues due to break ins and rapes and drugs etc. The issue is people need to grow up and teach their kids manners. This city has a lot of KIDS HAVING KIDS. Some people turn to drugs due to their surroundings. They want to be the cool person on the block and follow the leader … But what they need is to sit the f*** down and get an education and a job . I have had issues people breaking in my car to steal my spare change and my kids seats and diaper bag so they could get their next fix. The drugs got to stop .. Admit them in s rehab and don’t let them out til they clean but some people don’t have support and they need that so they can move forward!

  7. Is that an actual photo of a home in NB — or is that a stock image?

  8. If you know so much and have so many “simple” solutions why don’t you run for office , or apply too be the new police chief. People are the problem, it’s not just New Bedford every city in America is going to similar times .. Just look who our presidential canididates are and you know our country is at a very low point. Wish you the best of. luck with these solutions …

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