Crime and Pollution in Alton
The following data and statistics on crime, pollution, and overall safety in Alton are derived from a combination of trusted public sources and insights gathered from over 1 user contributions.
This comprehensive approach helps provide a balanced view of the city's crime rates, environmental concerns, air quality, and public safety. By aggregating information from government reports, environmental studies, and direct feedback from residents, we aim offer an up-to-date and thorough analysis of key factors impacting quality of life in Alton.
Crime Data in Alton
Crime Perception and Concerns
In 2024, Alton, IL, faces significant crime challenges, with high crime levels causing considerable concern among its residents. The city's crime index is notably high, reflecting ongoing struggles with both property and violent crimes.
Public safety perception is largely negative, with residents feeling unsafe, especially at night, which underscores a pressing need for improved security measures.
Some notable concerns include:
- Property Crimes - While property crimes are not noted to be the highest concern, the overall atmosphere of fear indicates underlying issues, potentially exacerbated by the high perception of increasing crime.
- Drug-Related Issues - Drug-related problems are a major concern in Alton, illustrating a critical area for law enforcement and public health initiatives to address in order to improve community safety.
- Violent Crimes - Though violent crime concern is reported at zero, the high overall crime index suggests potential underreporting or a mismatch in public perception versus actual events.
- Public Safety - Safety concerns are pronounced, particularly during nighttime, where a majority of residents do not feel safe. This lack of safety during darker hours is a major contributor to Alton's troubling crime perception.
Crime Trends and Safety
- Rising Crime Concerns - The perception that crime is on an upward trajectory is profound in Alton. This belief may be driving the negative public sentiment and underscores an urgent need for community engagement and effective policing.
- Specific Fears - Fears regarding attack and robbery are high, coupled with significant concerns about discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or religion. These fears highlight deep-seated social issues that need addressing.
Summary of Crime in Alton
Alton requires comprehensive strategies to combat its high crime rates, focusing on collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community members to restore a sense of safety and security.
Crime Rankings
The crime ranking by city for the United States is based on a continuously updated index, incorporating data up to 36 months old and calculated twice a year. Cities are ranked on a scale from "very low" to "very high" crime levels, with safety being the inverse, where a high safety index indicates a safer city.
Pollution Data in Alton
Air Quality and Pollution Levels
Alton faces substantial challenges with pollution, particularly affecting air quality. Despite low PM2.5 and PM10 levels, residents report dissatisfaction with air quality, pointing to other environmental and industrial factors.
Pollution is a significant concern for the Alton community, reflecting in its high pollution index and dissatisfaction with the general air quality.
- PM2.5 (Fine Particulate Matter) - While PM2.5 levels are reportedly at zero, suggesting negligible minor pollutants, other factors may contribute to the community's negative perception of air quality.
- PM10 (Coarse Particulate Matter) - Similar to PM2.5, PM10 levels are also at zero, indicating a perception issue perhaps influenced by larger pollution expectations or related environmental factors.
Waste and Noise Pollution
Issues with noise and waste management in Alton are perceived positively by some, with certain areas managing better than others. However, negative factors surrounding general urban cleanliness detract from overall satisfaction.
Garbage disposal satisfaction suggests effective waste management in parts of the city, yet complaints about the overall cleanliness indicate room for improvement.
- Garbage Disposal Satisfaction - Garbage disposal is seen positively, pointing to some effective systems in place. Nevertheless, there are existing pockets where improvements could strengthen public satisfaction.
- Noise and Light Pollution - Though rated positively, noise and light pollution indicate potential for disturbance in residential areas, impacting the quality of life.
Green Spaces and Water Quality
Green spaces in Alton are a perceived sore point, with expressed dissatisfaction over available parks and recreational areas affecting community well-being and quality of life.
Water quality is also a critical issue, with mixed perceptions suggesting challenges in maintaining consistent standards across different neighborhoods.
- Green and Parks Quality - Residents are particularly unhappy with the quality of green spaces, indicating a need for revitalization and better maintenance of recreational areas in Alton.
- Drinking Water Quality - Satisfaction with drinking water quality is neutral, but improvements in accessibility and management could enhance resident satisfaction.
Pollution Rankings
The pollution ranking for the United States is based on a combination of visitor perceptions and data from institutions like the World Health Organization. The Pollution Index estimates overall pollution levels by considering air and water pollution, garbage disposal, and other factors, with air pollution given the highest weight, while the Pollution Exp Scale uses an exponential function to highlight extremely polluted cities.
"Key Takeaways"
Alton, IL faces significant challenges with both crime and pollution, impacting public perception and quality of life.
High crime levels, coupled with concerns about discrimination and drug-related issues, require urgent attention to restore safety and community trust.
Pollution dissatisfaction is largely driven by perceived poor air quality and inadequate public green spaces, highlighting areas needing concerted improvement efforts.