Baton Rouge, Louisiana

==Crime==
Since the 21st century, Baton Rouge has had one of the worst crime rates in the nation. Baton Rouge has approximately 54 crimes per 1,000 residents which is higher than the national average of  23 and the Louisiana average of 34.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deepsentinel.com/blogs/home-security/is-baton-rouge-safe/#:~:text=FBI%20crime%20data%20is%20a,Louisiana%27s%20statewide%20average%20is%2034. | title=Is Baton Rouge Safe? | date=January 20, 2023 }}</ref> In 2021, Baton Rouge set a homicide record with 149 homicides. In 2022, ''[[Forbes]]'' ranked Baton Rouge the 8th most dangerous city in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2022/02/23/crime-in-america-study-reveals-the-10-most-dangerous-cities-its-not-where-you-think/?sh=778729f57710 | title=Crime in America: Study Reveals the 10 Most Unsafe Cities in 2022 (It's Not Where You Think) | website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> For the first time in Baton Rouge's history, the homicide count has reached at least 100 for four consecutive years (2020 - 2023).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/baton-rouges-homicide-rate-dropped-in-2023/article_379c7480-a9b1-11ee-8a06-f701495bd4fc.html | title=Baton Rouge's homicide rate dropped in 2023, but bloodshed remains higher than before pandemic | date=January 8, 2024 }}</ref>  Historically Baton Rouge is not known for much gang activity, but since the 2020s gang activity has become a major concern.  The East Baton Rouge Sheriff Office estimated 80% of crime in the city is committed by gang members so they established a gang task unit in 2024 that focuses on dismantling local gangs.<ref>https://www.businessreport.com/newsletters/heres-why-ebrsos-new-gang-unit-matters-for-business-owners</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/warning-of-increased-gang-violence-baton-rouge-police-plan-heavy-presence-in-targeted-areas/article_2ba9f752-3ab2-11ed-9b19-636217ee3de5.html | title=Warning of increased gang violence, Baton Rouge police plan 'heavy presence' in targeted areas | date=September 22, 2022 }}</ref> City leaders frequently discuss new strategies to hopefully lower crime around the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wafb.com/2024/02/10/baton-rouge-leaders-gathered-address-recent-crime-surge/ | title=Baton Rouge leaders gathered to address a recent crime surge | date=February 10, 2024 }}</ref>