Documentry

"1" is Most Dangerous, "50" is Safest

Most Dangerous States ALPHA ORDER RANK ORDER 2007 RANK STATE SUM

2006 RANK CHANGE

2007 RANK STATE SUM

2006 RANK CHANGE

17 Alabama 6.78 18 -1 1 Nevada 58.11 1 0

7 Alaska 23.05 9 -2 2 New Mexico 34.85 3 -1

3 Arizona 34.66 4 -1 3 Arizona 34.66 4 -1

13 Arkansas 10.79 15 -2 4 Maryland 34.50 5 -1

9 California 17.63 10 -1 5 Tennessee 31.79 8 -3

22 Colorado (1.53) 22 0 6 South Carolina 31.50 6 0

40 Connecticut (37.64) 39 1 7 Alaska 23.05 9 -2

18 Delaware 6.38 24 -6 8 Florida 21.06 7 1

8 Florida 21.06 7 1 9 California 17.63 10 -1

20 Georgia 5.30 13 7 10 Louisiana 17.55 2 8

28 Hawaii (16.17) 26 2 11 Michigan 16.55 12 -1

39 Idaho (37.21) 40 -1 12 Texas 13.85 11 1

21 Illinois 2.27 19 2 13 Arkansas 10.79 15 -2

25 Indiana (14.44) 28 -3 14 Washington 9.37 16 -2

43 Iowa (42.78) 43 0 15 Oklahoma 8.44 14 1

27 Kansas (15.64) 25 2 16 North Carolina 8.33 17 -1

34 Kentucky (27.00) 33 1 17 Alabama 6.78 18 -1

10 Louisiana 17.55 2 8 18 Delaware 6.38 24 -6

48 Maine (61.37) 49 -1 19 Missouri 5.59 20 -1

4 Maryland 34.50 5 -1 20 Georgia 5.30 13 7

30 Massachusetts (21.77) 30 0 21 Illinois 2.27 19 2

11 Michigan 16.55 12 -1 22 Colorado (1.53) 22 0

32 Minnesota (25.93) 35 -3 23 Ohio (1.92) 23 0

24 Mississippi (7.95) 21 3 24 Mississippi (7.95) 21 3

19 Missouri 5.59 20 -1 25 Indiana (14.44) 28 -3

44 Montana (44.74) 42 2 26 Pennsylvania (15.06) 29 -3

37 Nebraska (32.39) 34 3 27 Kansas (15.64) 25 2

1 Nevada 58.11 1 0 28 Hawaii (16.17) 26 2

47 New Hampshire (60.85) 47 0 29 Oregon (18.13) 27 2

33 New Jersey (26.94) 32 1 30 Massachusetts (21.77) 30 0

2 New Mexico 34.85 3 -1 31 New York (25.76) 31 0

31 New York (25.76) 31 0 32 Minnesota (25.93) 35 -3

16 North Carolina 8.33 17 -1 33 New Jersey (26.94) 32 1

50 North Dakota (65.58) 50 0 34 Kentucky (27.00) 33 1

23 Ohio (1.92) 23 0 35 Rhode Island (30.22) 38 -3

15 Oklahoma 8.44 14 1 36 Virginia (31.85) 37 -1

29 Oregon (18.13) 27 2 37 Nebraska (32.39) 34 3

26 Pennsylvania (15.06) 29 -3 38 Utah (32.43) 36 2

35 Rhode Island (30.22) 38 -3 39 Idaho (37.21) 40 -1

6 South Carolina 31.50 6 0 40 Connecticut (37.64) 39 1

45 South Dakota (48.43) 45 0 41 West Virginia (37.87) 41 0

5 Tennessee 31.79 8 -3 42 Wisconsin (42.11) 44 -2

12 Texas 13.85 11 1 43 Iowa (42.78) 43 0

38 Utah (32.43) 36 2 44 Montana (44.74) 42 2

49 Vermont (62.33) 48 1 45 South Dakota (48.43) 45 0

36 Virginia (31.85) 37 -1 46 Wyoming (50.03) 46 0

14 Washington 9.37 16 -2 47 New Hampshire (60.85) 47 0

41 West Virginia (37.87) 41 0 48 Maine (61.37) 49 -1

42 Wisconsin (42.11) 44 -2 49 Vermont (62.33) 48 1

46 Wyoming (50.03) 46 0 50 North Dakota (65.58) 50 0

METHODOLOGY: The Most Dangerous State 2007 rankings are determined by a four step process. First, rates for six crime categories — murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft — are plugged into a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given crime category.

Second, the outcome of this equation is then multiplied by a weight assigned to each crime category. For this year’s award, we again gave each crime category equal weight. Thus state comparisons are based purely on crime rates and how these rates stack up to the national

average for a given crime category.

Third, the weighted numbers are added together to achieve state’s score ("SUM.") In the fourth and final step, these composite scores are ranked from highest to lowest to determine which states are the most dangerous and safest. Thus the farther below the national average a state’s crime rate is, the lower (and safer) it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher (and more dangerous) a state ranks in the final list.