This is How Texans Perceive Their Public Safety

Knowing the crime rate of an area can help residents and locals prepare themselves properly and take safety precautions. These precautions may look different based on the area in particular, or even the state as a whole. Some states and some cities provide better public safety measures for their residents than others, while some states and cities provide fantastic public safety support but there’s still something that makes people paranoid about their safety.

According to Safewise, most Texans are worried about violent crime such as murder. However, this isn’t the most common crime across the state. That title belongs to physical assault by a stranger. Unfortunately, Houston does not make the list of top 50 safest cities in Texas, but we didn’t quite expect that.

With that being said, it’s important to take a look at what factors go into public safety and people's perception of the safety of their surroundings because there are so many different factors that can affect this. For one thing, some believe having additional security in cities alienates some people. Others believe that it is communication between law enforcement agencies that creates a stronger sense of security.

From blue-light stations where you can quickly phone the police to well-lit alley ways, each state has a different way of dealing with public safety. With the evolution of COVID-19, Houston authorities are facing public safety issues which aligns with how Texans feel about their perceived personal safety when they’re in public.

The perception of safety doesn’t always align with current crime rates, however according to a unique study focusing on each state’s average perception of safety based on a 1-5 scale, Texans don’t feel very safe. It’s likely that won’t change any time soon, especially because criminal court judges are struggling to clear their queue of cases. Police officers are facing a difficult time during the pandemic, likely to be affected - yet again - with the reopening of many offices, businesses, and other organizations. Houston County is set to reopen Monday, May 18th.

What would make you feel more safe in Houston?