One would expect that crime rates on military bases would be lower than the median crime rates in the rest of the country. It would almost seem like an idyllic place to live with homespun values and peaceful gatherings of families supporting each other while soldiers are deployed.
As it turns out though, reports show that some military towns have the highest crime rates in the United States. The most dangerous on the list is in the Schofield Barracks neighborhood in Hawaii. The area reports approximately 759 property crimes per 1,000 people, which is far above the national average of 34 per 1,000 residents. It’s a staggering 20 times the national average and 15 times the average of Hawaii itself.
While oftentimes the crime rates tend to be highest among property damage, robbery, theft and motor vehicle theft.
So why would our nation’s protectors not be protecting their own homes?
According to the NeighborhoodScout, an organization which does crime analyses by neighborhoods all over the country, the answer could lie in the demographics of the American military. It would appear that having large concentrations of single males living together in small areas could be a possible explanation for surges in crime rates.
It’s not impossible to imagine that these young men, who have been separated from their parents, wives, families, and communities may be more tempted to commit certain types of crimes.
Even so, there are only ten neighborhoods in which the military crime rate is so high. There are over 300 neighborhoods in American that houses at least 20 percent of the military and can be considered to be considerably safer than most of the country. These towns show a stark contrast to the others, with crime rates coming in at 7 percent below the national average.
Protecting Your Career & Future
United States service members are held to a high standard of conduct, whether actively engaged in a military exercise or training, or while interacting with civilians while on leave. Unfortunately, the strict code of conduct, known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ, often leads authorities to file charges that can dramatically impact your freedom, your career, and your future.