Alaska
Alaska in 2020 had the highest violent crime rate of all the states per residents coming in at 867.1 per 100,000. This number is so crazy to think about when we look back at the other states we have covered. Fortunately, they have since then decreased this number but I felt that it was still important to include this. Alaska also has the 5th highest percentage of residents who have experienced a violent crime. Technically Alaska has the highest crime rate out of all the states due to its low population. So the question is with such a high crime rate and such a low population how does this all affect their economy. In 2020 during the peak of its crime rate, the state as a whole saw an 11.4% unemployment rate which was very detrimental to a state that is already so low in population. In fact, Alaska has dropped -1.3% in their 5-year plan. Even to this day, the unemployment rate in Alaska is higher than the national average. With population being so low this can severely affect a state's economy. From 2015-2021 Alaska had the worst economy among all 50 states. Today Alaska still has one of the lowest performing economies, and it's no wonder when we read about their crime and unemployment rates. The biggest reason that there is so much crime is due to the lack of law enforcement. One in three communities in the state lacks local law enforcement. Alaska has pointed this issue out and is starting to expand its law enforcement. This is something that would decrease crime as well as open up more jobs to help out with the employment rate issue that they also have been faced with.
Sources:
https://www.propublica.org/article/in-search-of-solutions-to-alaskas-law-enforcement-crisis
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