LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A recent study has ranked Michigan as the second most violent state in the U.S., intensifying calls for the governor to take action.

The DeMayo Law Office’s analysis, using FBI data, reveals that Michigan had over 608,000 violent crimes between 2018 and 2022, averaging about 1,286 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. This alarming figure puts Michigan behind only New Mexico in terms of violent crime rates, overshadowing its neighboring states and comparable population states.

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The numbers from the FBI are stark: Michigan recorded 421,160 simple assaults, 139,360 aggravated assaults, 21,184 rapes, 3,064 murders, and 129 justifiable homicides over the five-year period. While incidents of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault saw a decline from 2021 to 2022, overall violent crime has risen slightly by 0.8% since 2018. Notably, murders have increased by 22.3%, and aggravated assaults are up by 12.4%.

Michigan’s violent crime rate significantly outstrips those of its neighboring states, according to The Midwesterner. Wisconsin, for instance, has a rate of 661 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, while Indiana has 789. Even among states with similar populations, Michigan’s numbers are strikingly high. New Jersey, the least violent state, reported 484 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Beyond violent crime, Michigan faces many other challenges. Economic issues such as high food insecurity, lagging wages, and significant child poverty rates plague the state. Additionally, Michigan’s performance in education, infrastructure, and overall governance has been underwhelming according to recent studies and rankings. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has faced criticism as these issues have persisted into her second term. In particular, the overall increase in violent crime since 2018, as reported by the Michigan State Police’s 2022 Crime in Michigan Annual Report, has contributed to the state’s ranking in the bottom half nationally.

Currently, the Whitmer administration is under pressure to deliver tangible results.

In a recent tweet, Tudor Dixon, former gubernatorial candidate, highlighted the gravity of the situation by pointing out that “Michigan has twice as many violent crimes as Wisconsin, 4 TIMES as many as New Jersey. Michiganders are in danger because Governor Whitmer would rather waste taxpayer money playing with Barbie and Mr. Potato Head than fight crime.”