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Monday, Jun. 16, 2025

Does Oklahoma rank among the worst states in safety?

Matthew Yim, Oklahoma Watch
yes

Two 2024 surveys rank Oklahoma at No.37 in terms of safety, placing it lower than 75% of the states.

Using FBI data to evaluate each state’s violent crime rate and poverty crime rate, U.S. News ranked Oklahoma at No. 37 in terms of public safety. This ranking further informed the best states for crime and corrections rankings and the overall best states rankings, for which Oklahoma ranks No. 36 and No. 42, respectively.

Vision of Humanity’s United States Peace Index ranked the states by peacefulness by evaluating homicide, violent crime, incarceration, police employees, and small arms, and placed Oklahoma at No.37 as well.

Their 2024 Global Peace Index, which measured each country’s state of peace across the domains of societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarism, ranked the United States at No. 132 out of 163 countries.

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Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation that produces in-depth and investigative journalism as a public service for the benefit of all Oklahomans. Through investigative, fact-driven journalism, we dig deep and examine significant issues facing our state. Our work engages all Oklahomans, amplifies the discussion of important issues and leads to change. We help develop the journalists and journalism of the future.

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