AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A state-by-state assessment measuring crime, guns and other factors lists Maine as the most peaceful state.
The nonpartisan, independent Institute for Economics and Peace released its second annual peace index on Tuesday. The ranking is based on analysis of homicide, violent crime, policing, incarceration rates and availability of small arms data.
Overall, it finds the Northeast to be America’s most peaceful region with the lowest homicide, violent crime and incarceration rates in the country. The South is the least peaceful region with the highest homicide, violent crime, and incarceration rates, as well as the highest prevalence of gun ownership, and the second highest police employee rate.
Maine is America’s most peaceful state with recorded reductions in the homicide and incarceration rates as well as the number of police employees.
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- Raiden Joyner, left, and Casey Roy, both 14 and from Turner, wait for Roy’s dog, Misty, to swim back to shore before using a rope swing on an island in the Androscoggin River in a photo taken in July 2011.
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