West Virginia Crime Rate by City – Latest Statistics

According to data compiled by the West Virginia Criminal Justice Department, West Virginia is not a violent state in comparison to others. West Virginia crime rate by city data shows that the state is on the right track in terms of making efforts to mitigate crime.

Factors That Contribute to High Crime Rates

West Virginia’s crime rate by city can be influenced by many factors. The crime rate is a complex imbalance of social and economic factors that are unique to a city or state. Some examples of these influential factors follow.

Socioeconomic and Community Factors

Factors such as inequality and poverty in low-income areas can often lead to desperation for residents. With a lack of opportunity in these places, many people turn to crime to support themselves. Some may commit crimes to align themselves with peers if, for example, they are part of a gang.

These factors make crime more likely:

• Low or Poor Education Quality: When a community lacks adequate education opportunities in lower grades and higher education, it can create a trickle-down effect that hinders social mobility and the improvement of life circumstances. Poor education may ultimately lead to a life of crime.
• Unemployment: High unemployment contributes to crime in areas where job opportunities and potential for advancement are lacking. It is easy for impoverished individuals with no hope of gainful employment to turn to illegal activities to support themselves and/or their families.
• Economic Instability: When national economic stability falters, it can increase poverty and hopelessness. Uneven wealth distribution in areas that are already suffering can result in frustration and desperation that lead to a rise in criminal activity.

Family and Community Factors

In many areas where the typical family prototype involves instability, such as divorce or neglect, there will also be a rise in criminal activity and juvenile delinquency, which significantly contributes to the crime rate.

• Substance Abuse: Substance abuse often runs parallel to other familial factors that contribute to crime. In areas where substance abuse is more common, there may be an increased amount of criminal activity, as impaired individuals are more likely to make poor decisions that lead them to commit crimes.
• Social Disorganization: When an area has a high population turnover and no cohesion in the community, it results in a weak social institution that can create an environment heavily laden with crime. A dense degree of urbanization in a high population can also make it difficult to achieve order, which may lead to an increase in opportunities for crimes to occur.
• Community Disadvantage: Disadvantaged neighborhoods often have high crime rates because residents are born into the violence and negative influences of their impoverished community. When children are raised in this environment and grow up learning and seeing crime as an example, they are more likely to become offenders or victims themselves.
• Law Enforcement: When law enforcement is spread thin in certain areas, crime flourishes since there are not enough officers to maintain control over the community. Also, in some areas, law enforcement departments may be corrupt themselves, which can contribute to criminal activity.
• Citizens’ Attitudes: If the public refuses to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to diminish crime in the area, there’s little potential to avoid an increase in criminal activity.
• Availability of Weapons: When more people have access to illegal weapons, including firearms, the severity and frequency of violent crimes will increase.

West Virginia Crime Rate by City

As a whole, West Virginia has the 15th lowest violent crime rate in the country. Specifically, it has both a lower property crime rate and a lower violent crime rate than the national average.

The city in West Virginia with the highest property crime rate is Beckley, at 7,701 per 100,000 people, followed by Fayetteville and South Charleston. The state’s lowest property crime rate is 34 in Williamstown, while Bluefield and Romney are close runners-up. Bluefield is the city with the highest violent crime rate, at 1,392, followed by Wheeling and Moorefield, while Buckhannon, Fayetteville, and Weirton have the lowest violent crime rates.

Fayetteville is an interesting outlier. While its property crime rate is one of the highest in the state, its violent crime rate is among the lowest, at just 71 per 100,000 people. Also, Bluefield has the highest violent crime rate but the second-lowest property crime rate.

With varying crime trends across West Virginia, understanding local legal risks is important—especially if you’re facing criminal charges. If you’re under investigation or charged with a crime in any of these areas, speaking with a qualified criminal defense lawyer in West Virginia is essential. Legal representation can make a significant difference in protecting your rights and navigating the complexities of the justice system.

FAQs

Q: What City in West Virginia Has the Worst Crime Rate?

A: The West Virginia city with the highest crime rate is Beckley. The city experienced 7,700 crimes per 100,000 population in 2022. This crime rate is 2,000+ higher than Fayetteville’s, which has the second-worst rate in the state. The poverty level and multiple tourist attractions in the city, including national parks, attract tourists and out-of-town visitors, which may contribute to the higher crime rate.

Q: What Is the Safest City in West Virginia?

A: Huntington, West Virginia, is arguably one of the safest cities in West Virginia due to the fact that its violent crimes and property crimes have both been on a decline. Local law enforcement attributes this decline to recently implemented initiatives to combat crime, including community policing and the Violent Crime Initiative. Huntington may not have the lowest crime rate, but it is a much safer city, in general, due to these crime-fighting strategies.

Q: What Areas Should I Avoid in West Virginia?

A: Areas to avoid in West Virginia would be those with a high crime rate, like Beckley. You have roughly a one in 39 chance of being a victim of a crime in this city. This is attributed to the fact that 27% of the population lives below the national poverty level. The national parks also attract a lot of tourists and, therefore, have increased crime rates.

Q: How Does West Virginia Rank in Crime?

A: West Virginia ranks fairly well in crime overall compared to other states. In 2023, the violent crime rate of West Virginia was 29% lower than the national average. The property crime rate was 38% lower than the national average, making West Virginia a fairly safe place to live compared to other states in the country.

To report a crime, a crime tip, or suspicious activity, you may do so online via the State Police online form.

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer if You’re Charged With a Crime in WV

While West Virginia’s crime rate may not be the highest in the country, thousands of residents are charged with crimes every year. If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s vital that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. At Wooton, Davis, Hussell & Johnson, PLLC, our firm knows how to craft a winning defense strategy on your behalf. Contact our team today to schedule your consultation.