Sununu, Rochester police chief laud law enforcement after report shows state among nation's safest

The Granite State is lowest in assaults per capita and second lowest in murders and nonnegligent manslaughters per capita (NHSP photo)

With nearly 14,000 Americans having died from gun violence this year and the country having experienced 20 billion-dollar climate disasters, the personal-finance website WalletHub recentllyreleased its report on 2024's Safest States in America, as well as expert commentary.

In order to determine the most secure states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 52 key metrics. The data set ranges from assaults per capita to the total loss amount from climate disasters per capita to the unemployment rate.

In a statement sent The Rochester Voice on Tuesday New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said the Granite State is often credited with being one of the country's safest states, and it never gets old.

"Yet another ranking showing New Hampshire offers our residents the best quality of life in the country!" Sununu noted. "Your personal freedom starts with your personal safety. Many thanks to the law enforcement community who helps make this ranking possible."

Rochester Police Chief Gary Boudreau told The Rochester Voice that "becoming the second-safest state in the nation does not happen by accident."

"This is a local community, and the statewide effort to make New Hampshire a place to live, work and visit is ongoing," he added. "This takes neighbors looking out for neighbors, and local, county and state levels of government all working together."

Safety in New Hampshire (1=Safest; 25=Avg.)

• Overall rank for New Hampshire: 2^nd
• 2^nd - Murders & Non-Negligent Manslaughters per Capita
• 1^st - Assaults per Capita
• 7^th - Loss Amounts from Climate Disasters per Capita
• 25^th - Job Security
• 5^th - Fatal Occupational Injuries per 100,000 Full-Time Workers
• 13^th - Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles of Travel
• 10^th - Sex Offenders per Capita
• 12^th - Share of Uninsured Population

For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-states-to-live-in/4566


"The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations. They have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness, too. In addition, states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates."
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"Vermont is the safest state, and nearly 77% of parents in Vermont believe they live in safe neighborhoods, the second-highest percentage in the country. In addition, Vermont has the 13th-fewest aggravated assaults, seventh-fewest murders and nonnegligent manslaughters, and 25th-fewest thefts per capita. Vermont excels when it comes to financial safety, with one of the lowest unemployment rates and one of the best job growth rates. In addition, Vermont has the second-fewest identity theft complaints per capita. To top things off, Vermont has safe roads, with the seventh-best road quality in the U.S., the 11th-fewest traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled and the seventh-fewest pedestrian fatalities per capita."

- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst


Expert Commentary

There are many different potential threats to one's safety, e.g.: crime, weather, pollution, dangerous workplaces. In choosing a place to live, how should people weigh the risks?

"As a criminologist, I think about safety from the perspective of crime. The first point to recognize is that violent crime, contrary to media-induced perceptions, is statistically rare. Additionally, understanding the fact that crime is not spread out uniformly in cities can guide personal decision-making. When choosing a place to live, one needs to avoid crime hot spots, which are microgeographic areas where crime is most prominent. Even though a city may have the reputation of being high crime, one does not need to steer clear of an entire city to remain safe. Simply avoiding problematic areas within a city is sufficient."
Chidike I. Okeem, PhD - Associate Professor; Assistant Chair, Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, Western New England University

"There are certainly many factors to consider today when choosing a place to live. After the devastating impact of the recent Hurricane Helene, I would suggest weather conditions and global warming... moves to the top of the list. For example, while Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina have traditionally been very desirable locations to relocate and live in, the possibility of hurricanes, floods, landslides and other extreme weather conditions are now major factors. Secondly, street crime is a significant consideration. I often recommend people carefully review local and state crime data and crime analysis before moving to a new location. Additionally, once a potential house or apartment is identified, I also recommend a conversation with a local beat cop. No one knows the true character of a neighborhood better than a beat cop. I would ask them; would you live here with your family? In addition to changing and intensifying weather patterns and crime conditions, I would recommend careful consideration to the proximity of family and friends support systems. It is extremely hard to move to a new location and live in complete isolation from your social support systems. Additionally, one has to consider the career, or retirement, opportunities in the area."
Dr. James O'Keefe - Associate Professor, St. John's University


What actions can the next presidential administration undertake to reduce crime and improve public safety?

"The next presidential administration can take several key actions to reduce crime and improve public safety. First, increasing federal funding for local law enforcement and community policing initiatives can help prevent crime at the local level, fostering trust between police and residents. Second, expanding mental health and addiction services is critical, as many crimes are linked to untreated mental illness and substance abuse. Third, investing in job training and education programs, particularly in high-crime areas, can address the root causes of crime by offering alternative paths for at-risk individuals. Additionally, implementing gun control measures, such as enhanced background checks and red flag laws, could help reduce gun-related violence. Criminal justice reforms, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenses and focusing on rehabilitation over incarceration, could also improve public safety by reducing recidivism rates."
Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, Lynn University

"There are a number of areas where the next presidential administration can work to reduce crime and improve public safety. Accurate crime data is important so that the administration can know where to focus its resources. Improving data collection should be an important first step to reducing crime and improving public safety. Increasing resources for state and local law enforcement agencies can improve citizens' safety and security where they live if based on accurate data. Providing funds for more officers and support staff is important, but using training and crime analysis to prepare and direct resources toward the targeted types and areas of crimes is more effective in promoting public safety. Training is important for local law enforcement so officers are community servants, not only militaristic troops and SWAT teams. Police are much more than crime fighters. They aid the injured until medical help arrives, provide traffic and crowd control, give emergency assistance in disasters, find lost children, and do many other tasks that make citizens more safe... A new presidential administration also should support innovative strategies to address mental illness. The mentally ill are rarely extremely violent, but today law enforcement is usually the first responder to incidents involving mentally ill persons in crisis. This immediately creates a dangerous situation for the mentally ill person and the responding officer. A call for help with a person in crisis has often led to the death of a mentally ill person when officers aren't trained to identify and de-escalate the crisis."
Lucy Edwards Hochstein, Ph.D. - Professor Emerita, Radford University


Are the police and health care labor force shortages affecting safety in the United States?

"Yes, labor shortages in both the police and healthcare sectors are impacting safety in the United States. Police departments nationwide are facing staffing shortages, with over 50% reporting difficulty in recruiting officers, according to a 2023 survey by the Police Executive Research Forum. This shortage limits effective policing and response times, contributing to higher crime rates in some areas. Similarly, the healthcare sector is struggling, with an estimated 2.1 million healthcare jobs expected to remain unfilled by 2025, according to Mercer. These shortages lead to longer emergency response times and reduced access to medical care, which can jeopardize public safety, especially during health crises or emergencies."
Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, Lynn University

"Law enforcement labor shortages are clearly having an adverse impact on public safety throughout the United States. Understaffed police agencies cannot do effective jobs in their preventive and proactive work if they are totally dedicated to simply reacting to crime and responding to 911 calls for service."
Dr. James O'Keefe - Associate Professor, St. John's University