Can you not walk down the streets or are certain areas safer than others, or is the city dangerous as a whole? I actually found a lot of opportunity in high school because there were so many honors programs and clubs, even at Commerce, and the teachers were generally great, it was just the students that blew. But, unfortunately people don't hear that… Bridget Patton, spokeswoman for the FBI in Kansas City, said reporting numbers for the UCR is voluntary, so not every city in the country is included. It's why many of the most popular games of 2020 - games like Among Us, Genshin Impact, and Animal Crossing - all have multiplayer features. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-51711452', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars regularly vandalized? "I think there's a lot of strain and frustration from the lack of resources that people experience," Hass said. It's a great way to get social interaction and have fun while still practicing safe social distancing. Yes, there are parts of the city with challenges and crime. A relatively low number that Springfield police attribute in part to the lack of gang activity in the city. Year over year violent crime in Springfield has decreased by 8% and the rate of property crime in Springfield has decreased by 2%. Longmeadow takes the cake as the best place to live around Springfield. Williams said the UCR numbers are not designed for rankings, but rather for law enforcement agencies to compare their own crime trends from year to year. Some people say it is unsafe but some crime stat sites say it has improved greatly. Detroit overtook St. Louis as the nation's new most dangerous city. SPRINGFIELD — The City of Homes means different things to different people. Thanks! I went to high school in Springfield- at Commerce, which is probably the worst/ most dangerous school- and still managed to do okay. Yes. Fulnecky's source for the "11th most dangerous city" moniker is the website 24/7 Wall Street which published an article in September ranking cities based on the number of violent crime reports per 100,000 people. Metro areas similar to Springfield. In Springfield you will find an extraordinary collection of firearms. I doubt she will let you come to a dangerous area or take you to one. ", In Fulnecky's campaign ads she calls Springfield the 11th most dangerous city in America while saying "we need to take the streets back.". ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-51710550', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Massachusetts forum on www.city-data.com. Harmony House, Springfield's domestic violence shelter, recently opened a new larger facility, which law enforcement officials are hopeful will lead to more victims getting out of dangerous situations and allow the number of assaults to go down. Related Questions. I live in the next town over. Which areas should we stay away from? Answer 1 of 9: I was thinking of booking the Sheraton in Springfield. I will be attending western new england college, so I will probably be living around that area. Williams, the Springfield police chief, said while violent crime has increased in recent years, Springfield is still a safe place to live. This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed. Why is Boston a major city in Massachusetts? You just have to know where not to go: Don't go to the X or really, any street off of Belmont. I don't really know much about it's safety and haven't visited since 2001 but now I have a spouse and child to worry about so I want to know if it is a good idea to go there. The Springfield Museums offers five distinctly different experiences for a single admission price. At night it gets rowdy and news of fights is common, but if you don't insert yourself into these situations, you'll be fine. Is it really expensive? The website says it came up with its "most dangerous city" rankings by comparing the number of homicides, robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults in U.S. cities with more than 100,000 people. I guess like any American city it has it's bad neighbourhoods. Fulnecky's campaign ad says violent crime in Springfield increased by more than 73 percent between 2011 and 2015, which is true. Just how much non-residents contribute to a city's crime rate is tough to quantify — hence the FBI's position that "most dangerous city" rankings are often too simplistic. Still I know people who have come up from the bronx and say the worst parts of Springfield are like the best parts of the bronx. Many Northeast cities have seen their best days and are in a prolonged decline. That Springfield would end up on a list like the one compiled by 24/7 Wall Street is likely an indication the city's violent crime numbers are relatively high, Rosenfeld said. It sounds like a neighborhood possibly in transition. "It's not surprising that a city like Springfield with a big-city poverty rate might have a big-city crime rate.". Springfield is a city that has its share of good and bad; crime is higher in specific areas (Hill McNight, North End, Forest Park) but State & local police activity has reduced it greatly. It's too bad, that was once a great area to work & raise a family. Here Are The 10 Most Dangerous Towns In Massachusetts To Live In. But it's unclear how much credence to give the rankings. So is it generally safe? more than 25 percent of Springfield residents, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Springfield is a city in the state of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. She said she doesn't think the health care and employment opportunities in Springfield have kept up with the population growth over the last 10 years. Downtown is a lot of fun and just fine during the day. Mass is such a great state, pick almost anywhere else. Springfield and the west of Massachusetts are a real treasure trove for those who understand to discover off the beaten track. Williams said those population numbers don't tell the whole story since Springfield is the "hub of southwest Missouri," and the city's daytime or weekend population can be much higher. Any info you can give me? Information about crime in Springfield, MA, United States. I live in the next town over. As the April 4 election approaches, both candidates for mayor – Kristi Fulnecky and Ken McClure – say public safety is their No. Williams also emphasized that victims of violent crime in Springfield are rarely random, despite the impression you might get from some campaign ads. Just stay off union at night my friend and you should be fine most visitors don't really have issues but there is always that one coked up guy who starts stuff. Police say more than half of those aggravated assaults were domestic assaults. "These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, tribal area, or region," the FBI says. For some proud residents, it's a city poised for a comeback as it tries to turn the tide on crime and poverty. But I still go there all the time. Both mayoral candidates have said they want to increase the number of officers on the force, but it's unclear exactly how that would be funded. Not a lot of bad things happen at the park, but instances of violence have been reported there (I should add, outside the park, not inside it). Hartford is also 30 minutes south of Springfield but is just about as sketchy if not even more dangerous. I have read other posts that Springfield may be unsafe or avoid it, but nothing specific as to why? (The US average is 35.4) YOU SHOULD KNOW. 10 and No. Just like any state, Massachusetts has its share of cities where crime is a problem. (The US average is 22.7) Springfield property crime is 51.5. Are there roaming thugs downtown? Or would it be better to stay in a hotel and visit them briefly during the day? I'm writing this reply long after your original post yet hope there are others who will be inspired to visit Springfield without fear. Springfield blends big city amenities with a kinder quality of life. It would be better for you to visit your aunt while staying at a hotel in West Springfield or in the Northampton/Hadley/Amherst areas. I cannot think of a city that doesn't have a mix of good and bad. Tulsa, OK 3319.0 Higher than average crime. It seems reasonable, however, that many other cities on the 24/7 Wall Street list also have bigger daytime populations. But the homicide category is where Springfield looks best compared to the other municipalities on the "most dangerous cities" list. Springfield, MA 1846.8. That means about a third of all the violent crime reports in the city in 2015 were domestic assaults, which took place between family members, roommates or intimate partners. It's not directed at you, but rather at the people who give Springfield a bad rap. Didn't mow your grass in a month - 100 fine. Mayoral candidates say public safety is top priority. Richard Rosenfeld, criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said he was surprised earlier this year when he heard the governor mention Springfield as one of the country's most violent cities, so he looked at the numbers. But I still go there all the time. People from neighboring cities come to springfield to do crimes. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. In addition to driving up the assault numbers, domestic violence is also a leading cause of homicides in Springfield. The Victim Center provides services to victims of violent or sexual crimes in the Springfield area. I agree with FMP that you should just ask grandma. Springfield has the typical crime problems of a city. Springfield's rate of 1,355.6 violent crime reports per 100,000 people came in at No. The police department has some lofty goals to address the domestic violence problem over the next three years, like establishing a dedicated Family Violence Unit and helping open a Family Justice Center. There are a number of threads there about Springfield by people with your same question and some good answers for you by people who know the area. There are many sketchy areas though so don't go wandering around late at night. Shows how much people think the problem in their community are property crimes (home broken, car theft, etc. Springfield, Massachusetts is a mid-sized city with a population of 153,991 inhabitants. Find a Top Agent » Violent Crime Rate Over Time. more. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? While it might seem dramatic to imply criminals are running amok in a city with 8 total homicides in all of 2016, there is some data (albeit controversial) to back up Fulnecky's claim. In addition to driving up the assault numbers, domestic violence is also a leading cause of homicides in Springfield. But if you are visiting a neighborhood off the beaten track then the answer is different. Eric Greitens during his first State of the State address earlier this year. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. Do you believe that people have bad misconceptions of Springfield,MA because of how dangerous the media makes it out to be?Are you afraid to go into Springfield because of the stories you see and read on the news ? Detroit's violent crime rate is 1,965 incidents per 100,000 residents. I grew up in East (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And is Old Hill one of them, because that's where my aunt and grandmother live nowadays? What are some of the must-see areas? But the homicide category is where Springfield looks best compared to … The realtor I engaged didn't want to show me anything in Springfield and his jaw dropped when he saw the beautiful neighborhoods and the home I now own. Of the 2,262 violent crime reports in Springfield in 2015, about 67 percent were aggravated assaults. Neighbors Kansas City and St. Louis also made the list of 25, coming in at No. The 24/7 Wall Street website says it got its data from the FBI's 2015 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, in which local law enforcement agencies submit their crime stats to the FBI for compilation and analysis. Is Springfield Massachusetts a dangerous city? SPRINGFIELD, MA | THINGS TO DO EXPLORE MUSEUMS. Hass said some factors that might contribute to violent crime in Springfield are drugs, unemployment and a lack of mental health resources. I want to visit my aunt and grandmother in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Topographical history. As long as there is racisim,class,superiority ,ppl will always judge a … "Take them not just with a grain of salt," Williams said, "but discount them and discredit them because they're not valid.". We’ve considered the most recent F.B.I. Bartel said Springfield's rape and domestic violence numbers are high, and the statistics don't account for the additional victims who don't report their crimes to police. 1 priority. Perhaps your question could be rephrased to ask what parts of Springfield might I want to avoid while visiting family? (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Kristi Fulnecky, meanwhile, said violent crime is a big problem in Springfield and her opponent is "not living in reality. It’s still a dump, there’s gang violence, and a nightmare for businesses. You should check out the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thanks for being a part of the Tripadvisor travel community! Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Even going by that standard, however, the numbers had been trending in an undesirable direction for Springfield before a slight downturn last year. 0 1 2. Lower than average crime. Comparing one city to another, she said, should only be done after "careful studying and analysis.". Bartel said she thinks Springfield is overall a safe place, but she cautioned against minimizing the difficulties faced by the thousands of people in the city who are affected by domestic violence. He said there are a number of factors that make someone more or less likely to be a victim, like lifestyle, neighborhood, associates and gender. 11, according to the website. crime report and Home Security Sheild’s crime data to create this list of the most dangerous … As we mentioned earlier, the suburbs around Springfield aren’t all bad. So, yes, Springfield is dangerous, but I wouldn't let that stop you from visiting your relatives. What is there to do in Springfield, MA? Need the truth about Springfield, MA crime, Re: Need the truth about Springfield, MA crime, Get answers to your questions about Springfield, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Springfield, Hotels near Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, Hotels near Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Hotels near The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center, Hotels near The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, Hotels near The Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html, ground transportation from BDL to Springfield bus station, Have heard about some of the things going on in Springfield, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Springfield MA, Hampton Inn & Suites Springfield/Downtown. As Election Day approaches in Springfield, both candidates for mayor say public safety is their top priority. It is pretty cheap to live there and has a good amount of college kids/young professionals living in the city. Initially and throughout colonial times, Springfield was oriented north–south along the Connecticut River, with Court Square at its center. Williams pointed out that while violent crime has grown over the last five years, so has the population. And in over 30 years of going downtown for dinner, theatre, sightseeing, ball games, etc, have NEVER seen a criminal act nor do 99.999% of the tourists. Springfield has a population density of 4,832 people per square mile. Last year, Bartel said, the Victim Center served more than 3,800 people. Fulnecky is referencing real crime reporting data, but local and national experts dispute the merits of using that data to compare cities. Answer 1 of 26: Hi, I want to visit my aunt and grandmother in Springfield, MA in the fall. Symphony Hall … "Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents.". What are the specific reasons for this view? You just have to know where not to go: Don't go to the X or really, any street off of Belmont. The center of Springfield has the basketball Hall of Fame, an excellent cultural quadrangle with three art museums, a science museum, a large Carnegie Library and a scuplture garden.Forest Park ( a short drive from downtown) is a great city park with beautiful gardens and a great petting zoo. 1, respectively. But any community progress over the last four years has yet to be reflected in the crime stats. Washington, D.C., which 24/7 Wall Street deemed four spots less dangerous than Springfield, had 162 criminal homicides in 2015. Springfield police first noticed a spike in domestic assault numbers in 2012. 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