Feeling Safe in Old Dominion

Throughout the country, the ways that different people perceive and seek out public safety is pivoting rapidly. Health and sanitation concerns from COVID-19 have called safety and sanitation measures into question. Meanwhile, nationwide calls against racism are calling criminal justice systems into question. This national movement has definitely reached Virginia, and many Virginians are re-evaluating how they themselves, as well as their neighbors, feel about public safety. Still, so many questions swirl around this turning point.

Fortunately, a new study from Homes.com, which analyzed national perceptions of public safety, offered some insights on how Virginians feel about crime and safety in their state before we move forward. The study offered some insights about perceived safety that fits into larger considerations among Virginians.

First, the study asked different states’ residents to rate their perception of safety. On average, Virginians rated their perception of safety at 3.62 on a scale from 1-5. This was slightly higher than the national average of 3.56, but did not make the list of the top 15 states where residents feel the most safe.

What could contribute to Virginians’ positive ratings of perceived safety? It could be that they are actually safer. A separate report from the FBI showed that Virginia had the fourth lowest violent crime and 13th lowest property crime rates in the nation.

Still, perceptions of safety and actual safety do not always line up. The study also provided an interesting look into this gap between perceived and actual safety and found that Virginia was among the top 5 states where residents feel less safe than they actually are.

When you consider the unique public safety news that has surrounded Virginia, this gap in safety perception makes sense. In recent years, national media coverage has centered around the state’s violent crimes, including that of hate groups in Charlottesville, mass shootings and gun control debates, and sexual assaults at state colleges. With all this public discussion about crime and danger in Virginia, it’s not surprising that public safety focus might drift from FBI ratings.

However, even with all we can know about current perceptions of safety and how these statistics guide Virginia’s public safety policy, it’s impossible to predict what will happen next in the state. Virginia, and, in fact, the whole country are at a turning point. Hopefully, we will move into a future that feels and is state for all Virginians.