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Study: Crime down in Chattanooga, but residents don’t think so

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Police tape flutters in the breeze in the parking lot at Hamilton Place mall. A study released Sept. 25 shows that while crime is down in Chattanooga, increased homelessness and disorder may lead residents to feel like the city is more dangerous. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Police tape flutters in the breeze in the parking lot at Hamilton Place mall. A study released Sept. 25 shows that while crime is down in Chattanooga, increased homelessness and disorder may lead residents to feel like the city is more dangerous.

By Ellen Gerst September 25, 2024 12 min read

While violent crime is largely declining in Chattanooga, residents may think it’s on the rise because they’re seeing more signs of disorder in the city, a study being released Thursday found.

The study, from conservative New York-based think tank The Manhattan Institute, looks at how Chattanoogans’ perceptions of crime, measured in a survey earlier this year, match up with reality.

The survey and study were funded by a group of local businessmen, including two members of Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s transition team.

Conducted in February, the survey found a majority of the 550 respondents think crime and public safety are major issues in the city.