To determine the most dangerous states in America, USA Today reviewed the 2017 violent crime rate for all 50 states with data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The violent crime rate consists of the number of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.
We never like to work ourselves up into a panic over nothing, but with high unemployment and poverty rates, it does get you wondering if you're going to be in danger in some areas. And that doesn't even include all of the other types of crime going on in the country.
The important thing to remember is to always stick to the facts and official statistics - don't let sensational news give you a warped impression. We've ranked all 50 states from safest to most violent so you don't have to do the work. The 5 most violent states are a bit surprising!