Most peaceful state? Maine. Least peaceful? Louisiana.

[cali]

<snip>

Vermont ranks second in the nation for being most peaceful, according to the recently released peace index calculated by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Maine has been the most peaceful state for 11 years, making the Northeast America’s most peaceful region. Louisiana is the least peaceful state, 20 years running.

Peace and Justice Center Program Director Gabriela Ochoa Brenneman has an idea why Vermont ranks high on the index. “It’s how our state handles crime,” she said. “Vermont has pioneered in areas of restorative justice, and does a great job providing an alternative to incarceration, which helps to keep the number of incarcerations low in our state.”

Vermont’s Restorative Justice Program links offenders and victims through local reparative boards. Restorative and Community Justice Executive David Peebles said the program contributes to strong and healthy communities by engaging involved parties in finding solutions and addressing harm.

<snip>

Gov. Peter Shumlin, joined by experts from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the Pew Center on the States, said last month that the state has reversed the skyrocketing trend in prison growth, reduced failure rates among people released from prison, and cut crime over the past five years.

“Vermont’s successful efforts to keep nonviolent offenders out of expensive jail cells, keep our communities safe, and help control the growing recidivism rate have saved taxpayers money and enabled inmates to build successful lives outside of jail,” said Gov. Shumlin in a news release.

<snip>

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120709/NEWS02/307090003/peace-in-vermont?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE


Where does your state rank and how are the rankings established?

http://www.visionofhumanity.org/unitedstatespeaceindex/2012/

[BlueJazz]

1. Boy..I'm really shocked that with such an intelligent, caring governor as Bobby Jindal,..,,

....Louisiana ranks last. Go figure ??

[4th law of robotics]

2. The study seems flawed

The USPI measures peacefulness according to five indicators: the number of homicides, number of violent crimes, the incarceration rate, number of police employees and the availability of small arms.

Murders and violent crimes seem reasonable. But the incarceration rate? Considering how many are jailed for non-violent drug offenses I would be hesitant to directly link this to the peacefulness of a state. If 100 stoned folks sitting on their couch go to jail in my state but 90 face eating bath salt addicts go to jail in yours by that measure my state is less peaceful. Sure if this was written from the perspective of doritos. But for humans?

Same deal with the number of cops: I could see an area having very few cops because they have very little crime. Or because it's a blighted area and they can't afford more, leading to more crime (and fewer incarcerated).
That seems like a poor metric.

And no direct link has been shown in the US between availability of hand guns and violent crime.

So 2 of 5 metrics are questionable, one is outright wrong. That's not a great start.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Do your own study.

Your theory maybe wrong.

[4th law of robotics]

5. I could, or I could cite others

Handguns and violent crime: http://law.wm.edu/faculty/documents/moody_guns_and_crime.pdf

We find that handguns have a negligible effect on crime. Apparently, there is no causation in either direction, or a rough balance between criminals who use handguns in the commission of crime and citizens who use handguns to defend themselves and deter crime.

Incarceration rates and violent crime: http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_iandc_complex.pdf

Increasing incarceration while ignoring more effective approaches will impose a heavy burden upon courts, corrections and communities, while providing a marginal impact on crime.

Police numbers and violent crime: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/police-numbers-and-crime-rates-rapid-evidence-review-20110721.pdf

Higher levels of police are linked to lower levels of property crime. Evidence for an association between police numbers and violent crime is weaker.

[TlalocW]

3. It's the maple syrup

They have so much of it, they practically give it away for free, and it keeps the local populace sedated.

TlalocW

[crim son]

6. If only that were true!

(says crim son, in Bangor, Maine)

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. In the same vein, on the opposite end of the ratings...

It's amazing how a bad case of prickly heat can change a person's disposition and make them more inclined to pummel a fellow citizen vigorously about the head and shoulders. Especially if they have a Slurpee and won't share.

[LeftinOH]

7. So all that Maine murder & mayhem from Stephen King is all made up?

[eShirl]

9. no, but that's 100% of it

[smirkymonkey]

11. Most household in Maine have pet attack Lobsters

nobody wants to mess with them.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10. In which state will you find more Canadian tourists?

They might have an impact.