I. Violent Crime by State
- The 5 safest states in America typically include Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Utah, based on crime rates per capita.
- The 5 least safest states in America often include Louisiana, New Mexico, Alaska, Tennessee, and Arkansas, based on crime rates per capita.
- The most committed types of crimes include theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and drug-related offenses.
- The U.S. has a dual court system, meaning there are both state courts and federal courts, each with its own jurisdiction and responsibilities.
II. State Data 5. As of the latest estimates, Tennessee has a population of approximately 6.9 million. 6. Tennessee generally ranks among the less safe states, frequently falling in the middle to lower tiers of safety rankings. 7. Tennessee spends about $12,000 per child on education. 8. Tennessee spends approximately $66.10 per inmate per day to house inmates in prison. 9. The number of people currently incarcerated in Tennessee prisons is around 30,000. 10. The death penalty is a legal punishment where a person is executed for committing serious crimes; the Constitution allows it under the Eighth Amendment, prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. 11. Yes, Tennessee uses the death penalty for crimes including first-degree murder, especially in aggravated circumstances. 12. The number of people currently on death row in Tennessee varies but is typically around 50; they are housed at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. 13. Most prisoners in Tennessee have committed violent crimes, particularly homicide and drug-related offenses.
III. Town Data 14. The population of Collierville is approximately 51,000. 15. The median cost of a home in Collierville is around $350,000. 16. The median income for Collierville is approximately $90,000. 17. The Collierville Municipal School District spends about $12,500 per child. 18. The crime rate in Collierville is relatively low, around 1.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. 19. The most common types of crimes in Collierville often include property crimes such as theft and vandalism. 20. A small percentage of crimes in Collierville, estimated at around 10%, may be committed by juveniles.
IV. Metro Data 21. The population of Shelby County, TN, is approximately 935,000. 22. The crime rate for Shelby County is around 10.2 per 1,000 residents. 23. The median cost of a home in Shelby County is roughly $250,000. 24. The median income for Shelby County is about $60,000. 25. The population of Memphis, TN, is approximately 650,000. 26. The crime rate for Memphis is significantly higher, around 19.9 per 1,000 residents. 27. The median cost of a home in Memphis is about $180,000. 28. The median income for Memphis is approximately $48,000. 29. Common types of crimes in Memphis include violent crimes like robbery and assault, as well as property crimes. 30. Around 15% of crimes in Memphis may be committed by juveniles, primarily involving theft, drug offenses, and assault. 31. Approximately 110,000 students attend Memphis/Shelby County Schools. 32. The Memphis/Shelby County School District spends about $12,000 per child.
V. Juveniles and Crime 33. A juvenile is typically defined as a person under the age of 18; crimes that can only be committed by juveniles are status offenses (e.g., truancy, curfew violations). 34. Punishments for juvenile offenders may include probation, community service, and detention in a juvenile facility. 35. In Tennessee, a juvenile can be tried as an adult at age 16 for certain crimes. 36. A juvenile can be charged as an adult in Tennessee for serious crimes including homicide and aggravated assault. 37. The youngest juvenile executed in the U.S. was George Stinney, who was 14 and executed for the murder of two girls. 38. The last juvenile executed in the U.S. was in 2005; the crime was murder. 39. The Supreme Court case Roper v. Simmons (2005) ruled that executing juveniles is unconstitutional. 40. As of the latest data, about 10,000 juveniles are incarcerated in adult prisons; the most common crime is robbery. 41. In Tennessee, approximately 100 juveniles are incarcerated in adult prisons, with the most common crime being aggravated assault.