Which state is the most lenient on crime?
Asked by: Bette Daugherty | Last update: January 24, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (33 votes)
Nevertheless, Kentucky and New Jersey tied for the longest average sentence at 1.9 years, while South Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming were the most lenient, with an average of 0.3 years. For crimes against persons, states were generally much harsher in sentencing.
Which state is the safest from crime?
Vermont is the safest state in the U.S. due to its neighborhood security, financial health and road safety, according to WalletHub. Nearly 77% of Vermont's residents feel safe in their communities, the second-highest percentage in the country.
What state is #1 in crime?
1. Alaska. The most dangerous state in the US is Alaska, having the highest combined violent and property crime rate out of any state. Out of a population of 736,081, Alaska's crime rate was 32.14 per 1,000 people in 2022, making it the state with the highest crime rate.
What state has the best criminal justice system?
- New Hampshire. #1 in Crime & Corrections. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
- Maine. #2 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- Vermont. #3 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- Massachusetts. #4 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- New Jersey. #5 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- Connecticut. #6 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- Rhode Island. #7 in Crime & Corrections. ...
- Kentucky. #8 in Crime & Corrections.
What state has the harshest punishments?
Nevada and Texas have the harshest sentencing and conditions to live in. In Nevada they give out the longest sentence and very few get parole.
State of Safety: Property Crime | Which states worry most about property crime?
What states are the most lenient on criminals?
Nevertheless, Kentucky and New Jersey tied for the longest average sentence at 1.9 years, while South Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming were the most lenient, with an average of 0.3 years. For crimes against persons, states were generally much harsher in sentencing.
Which state has the least strictest laws?
New Hampshire, Florida, South Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona are the freest states in the country and now significantly outpace their peers. States that have always done well in our index—such as Tennessee and Indiana—also find themselves in the top 10.
What state is the softest on crime?
- Maine. ...
- Massachusetts. ...
- Rhode Island. ...
- Idaho. Total Crime Rate: 11.68/1000 people. ...
- Connecticut. Total Crime Rate: 16.44/1000 people. ...
- Maryland. Total Crime Rate: 20.34/1000 people. ...
- Utah. Total Crime Rate: 21.37/1000 people. ...
- New Hamsphire. Total Crime Rate: 11.37/1000 people.
What's the best state to live in?
- Utah. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
- New Hampshire. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
- Nebraska. #3 in Best States Overall. ...
- Minnesota. #4 in Best States Overall. ...
- Idaho. #5 in Best States Overall. ...
- Iowa. #6 in Best States Overall. ...
- Vermont. #7 in Best States Overall. ...
- Washington. #8 in Best States Overall.
Which state has the best prisons?
- New Hampshire. #1 in Corrections Outcomes. #2 in Best States Overall. ...
- Hawaii. #2 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- Vermont. #3 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- Maine. #4 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- Washington. #5 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- Massachusetts. #6 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- Utah. #7 in Corrections Outcomes. ...
- New Mexico. #8 in Corrections Outcomes.
What state has the most murders ever?
Which states have the highest murder rates? Mississippi's homicide rate — the highest in the nation — is more than 11 times New Hampshire's — the nation's lowest. The national homicide death rate fell by 6.1% from 2021 to 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What US city has the highest crime rate in 2024?
- Memphis, TN.
- St. Louis, MO.
- Detroit, MI.
- Birmingham, AL.
- Little Rock, AR.
- New Orleans, LA.
- Cleveland, OH.
What are the top 10 worst crime states?
- Louisiana. ...
- Mississippi. ...
- Texas. ...
- Arkansas. ...
- Oklahoma. ...
- Montana. ...
- Alabama. ...
- Florida.
What is the cheapest and safest state to live in?
- Live in Boise, Idaho.
- Affordable living in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Winston Salem, North Carolina: among the cheapest cities in USA.
- Live affordably in Naples, Florida.
- Enjoy Lexington, Kentucky.
What is the safest city in the USA?
Safest Cities in The U.S.: The Safest City
“Ramapo Town, New York, ranks as the safest city due to its very low violent crime and property crime rates. While it doesn't have the lowest violent crime rate for its size, it does offer substantially lower property crime rates compared to similar-sized cities,” says Solum.
What is the most moved to state in 2024?
West Virginia, Delaware, and South Carolina saw the highest percentage of inbound migration in 2024. New Jersey, Illinois and New York had the highest outbound migration, with many leaving for retirement or to be closer to family.
Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live?
- Fort Wayne, IN.
- Huntsville, AL.
- Wichita, KS.
- Springfield, MO.
- Davenport, IA.
- Hickory, NC.
- Montgomery, AL.
What is the least desirable state to live in?
They all have their own charm and challenges, but some are more of a challenge than others when it comes to living standards, weather, job opportunities, and overall happiness. However, states such as New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma are frequently among the lowest ranking on those metrics.
What state has the least murders?
Leading this list is New Hampshire, with only 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people, which is strikingly lower than the rates observed in states with the highest murder rates. Following closely, we have Vermont and Maine, with murder rates of 1.5 and 1.7, respectively.
Which state has the most felons?
As of December 2022, there was a total of 139,631 prisoners in the state of Texas, the most out of any state. California, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio rounded out the top five states with the most prisoners in the United States.
What is the freest U.S. state?
This year—the 20th year that the Economic Freedom of North America index has been published—New Hampshire is again the freest state among all U.S. states, having scored 8.12 out of 10 in this year's report, which measures government spending, taxation, regulations and labor market restrictions using data from 2022, the ...
What state is the most gun-friendly?
- New Hampshire is #1 thanks to its incredibly relaxed gun laws, low crime rates, and lack of state sales tax.
- West Virginia is #2 due to recent legislative actions to remove firearm restrictions and reduce sales tax on firearms and ammunition.
What is the most broken law in America?
1. Underage drinking. Underage drinking is relatively common in the U.S. Despite the law, alcohol continues to be the substance of choice for young people, ranking even higher than tobacco, marijuana, and other substances.