North Dakota Once Again is Safest

[1999 Rankings] [Methodology] [State Rankings for the 6 Crimes]

[Most Dangerous/Safest State Rankings 1994 to 1999]

[Corporate Information Sheet] [MQ Home Page]

LAWRENCE, KS — Nevada is "back!" After falling to third place last year, the Sagebrush State has reclaimed its title as the nation’s Most Dangerous State. At the opposite end of the scale, the appropriately-named Peace Garden State of North Dakota is America’s Safest State for the third year in a row. Morgan Quitno Press, a Lawrence, Kansas-based independent research and publishing company, today released the results of its sixth annual crime awards.

"Nevada topped our Most Dangerous State lists in 1996 and 1997," said Scott Morgan, President of Morgan Quitno Press. "But in 1998, it fell to third place. This year Nevada has roared back to the top, ranking first over Florida and last year’s winner, Louisiana."

The sixth annual Most Dangerous and Safest State rankings are based on six basic crime factors reported in Morgan Quitno’s annual reference book, Crime State Rankings 1999. The updated edition of that volume was published this month. Factors considered were rates per 100,000 population for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. A complete description of the methodology is available from Morgan Quitno Press.

Taking second place "honors" behind Nevada was Florida, followed by Louisiana in third, New Mexico in fourth and Tennessee in fifth place. On the safer end of the rankings scale immediately preceding the North Dakota were New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Montana. These states also ranked well in last year‘s survey.

"For each of the past five years Nevada has ranked in the top ten among states in violent crime rates," Morgan said. "In contrast, for those same five years, North Dakota consistently has had the lowest violent crime rate in the country." Morgan added that Nevada is making headway in reversing its high crime rates. Single year comparisons show that the violent crime rate in Nevada fell 1.6% from 1996 to 1997, the most recent years for which final state crime data are available from the FBI.

Additional information about the 1999 Most Dangerous/Safest State Awards is available through the Morgan Quitno website at www.morganquitno.com . Included is a list of factors and an explanation of methodology. Also available is a table showing how each of the 50 states ranks in each of the 6 categories considered for the award and a listing of the rankings of each state for the past six years is available. A corporate information sheet on Morgan Quitno Press is also available. For further inquiries, please telephone Morgan Quitno Press at (785) 841-3534.

The Most Dangerous/Safest State Award is one of four designations announced annually by Morgan Quitno in conjunction with publication of its annual reference book. The company's other annual announcements designate the nation’s Safest City and Metro Area, the Most Livable State and the Healthiest State.

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