MOST VIOLENT & LEAST VIOLENT STATES - The Wall Street Journal newspaper has put together an index on violent crime, incarceration and suicide rates to identify the most peaceful and most violent states. And according to the data collected among the 50 states Louisiana tops the list as the most violent state in the nation. According to data compiled by The Wall Street Journal:
#1 Louisiana: Violent crime rate is 557.0 per 100,000 residents (4th highest) Murder rate: 12.4 per 100,000 residents (the highest)
#5 Arkansas has a violent crime rate of 554.9 per 100,000 residents (6th highest) Murder rate: 8.6 per 100,000 residents (5th highest)
#15 Texas violent crime rate of 438.9 per 100,000 residents (16th highest) Murder rate: 5.0 per 100,000 residents (25th lowest)
The Least Violent State – according to the Wall Street Journal’s Index is Rhode Island
Violent crime rate: 232.2 per 100,000 residents (9th lowest) Murder rate: 1.9 per 100,000.