Violence continues to plague inner cities across the U.S. for reasons that are not exactly known. Especially hard-hit by increasing violence are the youth, problems that eventually spread to other areas of the globe, too.

Below are the ‘Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.,’ according to NeighborhoodScout.com. It’s worth reviewing these statistics, as the results just may shock you.

Facing the Hard-Core Facts:

Rank	City
100	Sarasota, FL
99	Muskegon, MI
98	Melbourne, FL
97	Richmond, CA
96	Rocky Mount, NC
95	Lawrence, MA
94	Bridgeport, CT
93	Miami Beach, FL
92	Milwaukee, WI
91	Worcester, MA
90	Tulsa, OK
89	Toledo, OH
88	Jeffersonville, IN
87	North Miami, FL
86	Danville, IL
85	Holyoke, MA
84	Paterson, NJ
83	Charleston, WV
82	Poughkeepsie, NY
81	Pontiac, MI
80	Lansing, MI
79	Chicago, IL
78	Lauderdale Lakes, FL
77	Springfield, MA
76	Jackson, TN
75	San Bernardino, CA
74	St. Petersburg, FL
73	Cincinnati, OH
72	Lima, OH
71	Elizabeth, NJ
70	Cleveland, TN
69	Council Bluffs, IA
68	Norristown, PA
67	Orlando, FL
66	Baton Rouge, LA
65	Springfield, IL
64	Carbondale, IL
63	Compton, CA
62	Canton, OH
61	Battle Creek, MI
60	Indianapolis, IN
59	Farmington, NM
58	Lake Worth, FL
57	New Bedford, MA
56	Fort Pierce, FL
55	New London, CT
54	East Point, GA
53	Niagara Falls, NY
52	Providence, RI
51	Newark, NJ
50	Philadelphia, PA
49	Nashville, TN
48	Kansas City, MO
47	Miami, FL
46	Washington, DC
45	Desert Hot Springs, CA
44	Bridgeton, NJ
43	Fort Myers, FL
42	Fall River, MA
41	Brockton, MA
40	Buffalo, NY
39	Salisbury, MD
38	Texarkana, TX
37	Hartford, CT
36	Alexandria, LA
35	New Haven, CT
34	Daytona Beach, FL
33	Cleveland, OH
32	Rockford, IL
31	Pine Bluff, AR
30	Harrisburg, PA
29	Trenton, NJ
28	Stockton, CA
27	Baltimore, MD
26	Atlanta, GA
25	Birmingham, AL
24	Little Rock, AR
23	Homestead, FL
22	Memphis, TN
21	Myrtle Beach, SC
20	Riviera Beach, FL
19	Chester, PA
18	York, PA
17	Wilmington, DE
16	Bessemer, AL
15	Harvey, IL
14	Monroe, LA
13	Oakland, CA
12	Spartanburg, SC
11	Chelsea, MA
10	Inkster, MI
9	Newburgh, NY
8	St. Louis, MO
7	Atlantic City, NJ
6	Detroit, MI
5	Saginaw, MI
4	West Memphis, AR
3	Flint, MI
2	Camden, NJ
1	East St. Louis, IL

*Source: Neighborhood Scout

Everybody is Culpable, to a Certain Degree

One basic element is required in order for things to move in a different direction in inner cities, a plan of action. Some inner cities lack basic necessities such as programs for education; job, management and technical training; crime prevention; drug rehabilitation; urban revitalization; social welfare; economic development and the development of a stronger sense of community.

Plus, countless dollars are wasted on programs that fall short of revitalizing our cities because they do not address the root of the problems. Without identifying the root causes, including urban decay and unrest, all other efforts for economic recovery and urban renewal are futile at best.

Carefully Executed Plans

Whether you are planning to visit these locations or just want to be in the know, storing this information in your memory bank may very well save your life because you can take the necessary precautionary measures to stay safe.

Web Links:

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/neighborhoods/crime-rates/top100dangerous/;

http://www.natural-law.org/platform/urban.html;

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Judaism/Galleries/10-Great-Jewish-Proverbs.aspx?b=1;

http://www.special-dictionary.com/proverbs/keywords/first_improve_yourself%2C_and_then_judge_others/.

-Kimberly Williams