As of 2019, Compton areas still report extremely high crime rates with a violent crime rate of above 1100 criminal incidents per 100,000 Compton residents. The most notorious areas of Compton include 

WattsSouth CentralCrenshaw BlvdWest ComptonEast Compton

These areas are famous for numerous reported crimes and murders committed between gangs. 

Crimes Committed In Compton

The areas of Compton are infiltrated with different gang members who act violently for the pettiest of reasons. Mostly, the gang members are highly invested in drug dealing and other similar activities that lead to violent actions when some other gang members or even tourists visit their ‘blocks’. The most commonly reported crimes in these are:

HomicideDrug dealingAggravated AssaultRapeGang warsDrive-by shootingsTheftsBurglary

Compton Crime Rates

There are several other dangerous areas in the USA, but this still has one of the highest crime rates. For example, 18 homicides were reported in this in 2018, which meant that the murder rate was around 18/per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the national murder rate in the US was reported to be 5/100,000 residents. In light of this, the murder rate in Compton is 3.7 times more than the national average! 

Some other crime rates of this as reported in 2019 are:

Rape-40Robbery-427Theft- 1285Motor Vehicle Theft- 727

With such high crime rates, It is a very dangerous place to reside in, especially if one is not part of a violent gang. 

Gangs Of Compton

Some of the most popular and highly notorious and violent gangs of these include:

CripsBloods135 PirusBarriox13

Additionally, there are numerous other gangs in this that take an active part in violent crimes and have been responsible for infiltrating society with fear and terror. The gang culture in that has always been present since the 1980’s era and it has been somewhat made a part of the that city culture. Reports suggest that there are almost 34 gangs in the 10-square-mile area of that and comprises over 1000 gang members. However, the reported numbers are usually not reliable since the gang members take their privacy seriously to stay safe from the police.

Reasons For Compton Crime Rates

One of the most important reasons which led to such high crime rates in Compton is poverty and unemployment. In the 1980s, the unemployment rate in Compton rose to 10% which was almost double the national average. This situation remained the same for a long time and it was reported in 2017 that around 17% of the Compton population earned below the national poverty scale. Such low-income rates and high unemployment rates led to higher crimes and especially more drug dealing on the streets. Furthermore, according to the US Census, 20.5% of the whole Compton population is in poverty. 

Staying Safe In Compton

For visitors, tourists, and people who have recently opted to live in the that area, there are several tips to follow to keep yourself safe from any violent crimes and become a victim of the violent gang culture. It is imperative to follow these tips to ensure your safety.

Stay indoors at nightTry to fit in as much as possibleAvoid public transport, especially at night. Try to use Uber if needed. In case of any confrontation with the locals, try to ignore them and keep walking. Always keep your car locked and your valuables with you. Stay alert in the streets.

During the daytime, people feel safer and criminal activities are low. However, during nighttime, the criminals are wandering around freely and it is best to follow the aforementioned tips to keep yourself safe.

Conclusion

It is one of the most dangerous areas of the USA and it is not a safe place to visit for tourists and visitors. While the crime rates have significantly decreased in comparison to the 80s and 90s era, the violent gangs are still active and areas like Watts, South Central, and Inglewood are extremely dangerous to visit.

Is The Gang Culture Still Alive In Compton?

Yes, several gangs are still active in that and are reported to be highly violent and extremely dangerous.

Is Compton Only For Black People?

According to our research, different people live in that. For example, according to US Census, It has around 35% white population and 29% Black population, and along with these people, there are also Latino and Hispanic residents in that.

What Is The Current Population Of Compton?

As of 2020, there are around 95,804 residents in Compton.