Better Lock Your Doors!

The results of CQ Press's annual Crime State Rankings are in. Join us as we reveal which 15 states were ranked as the most dangerous for 2008.

States are compared against the national average for six crimes, each carrying equal weight.

Click through our gallery and see if your state made the list.

No 1: Nevada
For the fifth consecutive year, Nevada tops the rankings as the nation's Most Dangerous State. On a positive note, however, its property crime rate showed improvement.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 8
Burglary: 6
Murder: 3
Motor Vehicle Theft: 1
Rape: 8
Robbery: 1

No. 2: Louisiana
Things have gotten worse in Louisiana. The state climbs to the No. 2 spot, all the way from the No. 10 spot it held last year. It has the highest murder rate of any state.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 4
Burglary: 4
Murder: 1
Motor Vehicle Theft: 19
Rape: 15
Robbery: 19


No. 3: New Mexico
New Mexico's coiffed tourist image of open desert spaces, Earth-conscious living and colorful hot-air balloons belie a serious crime problem in this border state.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 6
Burglary: 3
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 8
Rape: 2
Robbery: 24



No. 4: South Carolina
Whatever happened to Southern hospitality? Sunny South Carolina is charged with the highest assault problem in the Most Dangerous States list

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 1
Burglary: 7
Murder: 4 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 15
Rape: 12
Robbery: 18


No. 5: Arizona
Another border state tops the list of Most Dangerous States; there's more to fear here than black widow spiders and scorpions.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 16
Burglary: 12
Murder: 7
Motor Vehicle Theft: 2
Rape: 25
Robbery: 16


No. 6: Tennessee
Tennessee residents might sing about love for country and neighbor, but lag behind in showing it. The state earns the No. 2 slot for most assaults.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 2
Burglary: 5
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 17
Rape: 19
Robbery: 7

No. 7: Maryland
Hugging the nation's high-crime capital, struggling to revitalize Baltimore and growing its gambling industry, Maryland has the second-highest murder and robbery rate.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 10
Burglary: 25
Murder: 2
Motor Vehicle Theft: 7
Rape: 46
Robbery: 2


No. 8: Alaska
Alaska is plagued with having the highest number of rape cases. There could be a correlation with alcohol abuse, also known to plague the state.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 3
Burglary: 29
Murder: 22
Motor Vehicle Theft: 16
Rape: 1
Robbery: 31


No. 9: Florida
It has been commented on a city-data.com forum that Florida crime is not concentrated in one area, but rather spread across the state.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 5
Burglary: 10
Murder: 15
Motor Vehicle Theft: 12
Rape: 17
Robbery: 5


No. 10: Michigan
Michigan is home to two of the three most dangerous cities in America, according to the latest CM Press city rankings. Detroit ranks first and Flint ranks third.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 13
Burglary: 18
Murder: 9
Motor Vehicle Theft: 7
Rape: 3
Robbery: 17


No. 11: Arkansas
The home to former President Bill Clinton rises in the rankings for the 5th year in a row. After hovering in the middle of the pack in 2004, Arkansas now ranks in the top 10 of four of the six crime categories.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 9
Burglary: 2
Murder: 8
Motor Vehicle Theft: 34
Rape: 5
Robbery: 30


No. 12: Delaware
The First State has taken a sharp rise up the list over the past two years as it moved from 24th in 2006, to 18th in 2007 to 12th this year thanks to high rankings for assault, rape & robbery.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 7
Burglary: 20
Murder: 24
Motor Vehicle Theft: 23
Rape: 4
Robbery: 3


No. 13: California
Even though California makes the top 15 list for Most Dangerous States, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice states that crime rates in California have fallen over the last two decades.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 18
Burglary: 24
Murder: 10 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 4
Rape: 41
Robbery: 4


No. 14: Texas
The home of President George Bush ranked in the top 10 Most Dangerous States as recently as 2004 but has steadily improved since.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 15
Burglary: 13
Murder: 18
Motor Vehicle Theft: 13
Rape: 18
Robbery: 12


No. 15: Alabama
Seems in Alabama, they get serious fast. While only ranking 25th for assault, they tie South Carolina at No. 4 for murder.

Rankings in Crime (out of 50)

Assault: 25
Burglary: 8
Murder: 4 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 26
Rape: 16
Robbery: 13

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