Public Safety


Houston's overall crime rate has declined significantly since the early 2000s

  • Public safety remains a priority of the Houston mayor and Harris County judge. One-third of the city's and one-fourth of the county's operating budgets are dedicated to law enforcement.

2009 METRO HOUSTON CRIME STATISTICS*

ALL RATES PER 100,000 INHABITANTS

Crime Category

2002 Crime Rate

2008 Crime Rate

Percent Decline Since 2002

Overall

5,505.4

4,827.6

-12.3%

Violent

814.2

706.8

-13.2%

Murder

8.4

7.9

-6.0%

Rape

36.3

29.3

-19.3%

Robbery

322.1

276.2

-14.3%

Assault

447.5

393.4

-12.1%

Property

4,691.2

4,120.8

-12.2%

Burglary

1,042.2

1,035.8

-0.6%

Larceny Theft

2,897.0

2,659.9

-8.2%

Auto Theft

751.9

425.1

-43.5%

* Includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Waller Counties

2009 is latest year for which data is available.

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports
  • The Houston MSA has 58 registered first responder organizations that are dispatched as soon as ambulances are dispatched in response to a call for help. First responder organizations (usually city and volunteer fire departments) can start life-saving procedures such as CPR and oxygen administration before an ambulance arrives.
Join the Partnership
Share/Bookmark