Crime rates in the largest U.S. cities: how does Toronto compare?

TORONTO- While it may have the reputation as one of the safest cities in the world, recent shootings in Toronto have people wondering if violent crimes are on the rise.

Two people were killed and 23 injured as bullets rained down on a Scarborough street party late Monday night, just six weeks after two men were killed and five others injured as a result of a shooting in the food court of Toronto’s Eaton Centre mall.

Late in June, a man was killed in a daylight shooting in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood during Eurocup festivities. Then on Canada Day, a man was wounded after being shot after a fireworks show.

So how does Toronto compare to the top 10 largest cities in the United States? While our violent crime rate may be higher than some, our homicide rate is still well below all cities of comparable population.

Murder rates by city population:

*This population is for the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) of Toronto in 2010, which includes all of Mono, Mississauga, Orangeville, Vaughan, Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Aurora, Newmarket, King, East-Gwillimbury, Georgina, Caledon, Adjala-Tosorontio, New Tecumseth, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and parts of Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Uxbridge, Brock, Essa

The Toronto data above is from Statistics Canada 2010 Crime Stats report.

Violent crime is defined by StatsCan as: homicide, violations causing death, attempted murder, sexual assault, sexual violations against children, assault, pointing or discharge of firearms, robbery, forcible confinement or kidnapping, abduction, extortion, criminal harassment, uttering threats, harassing phone calls, violent violations.

According to StatsCan, a homicide occurs when a person directly or indirectly, by any means, causes the death of a human being. Homicide is either culpable (murder, manslaughter or infanticide) or non-culpable (not an offence and, therefore, not included in the Homicide Survey). Deaths caused by criminal negligence, suicide and accidental or justifiable homicide (e.g. self-defence) are not included. Homicide includes first- and second-degree murder, manslaughter and infanticide.

The American data above is from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Report 2010.

In the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force.

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines murder and non-negligent manslaughter as the willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another. The classification of this offense is based solely on police investigation as opposed to the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body.