# Integrating Machine Learning Techniques for Enhanced Safety and Crime Analysis in Maryland
## 3 Methodology
### Data Analysis
#### 3.4.2 Crime Trends, Shown by Victim's Racial Group, over the Years  
This section examines the trends in various crime types across different racial groups over the years, specifically focusing on burglary, larceny, robbery, assault, shooting, homicide, arson, rape, and auto theft (See Figure 3). The analysis reveals notable differences in victimization rates among racial groups, suggesting underlying systemic and socio-economic factors that contribute to these disparities. Figure 3: Crime trends, grouped according to the victim’s race, over the studied years: (**a**) burglary, (**b**) larceny, (**c**) robbery, (**d**) assault, (**e**) shooting, (**f**) homicide, (**g**) rape, (**h**) arson, and (**i**) auto theft. For burglary (Figure 3a), both White and Black/African American victims experienced the highest counts, with a significant decline observed in both groups, particularly from 2021 onward. Between 2018 and 2023, burglary rates among Black/African American victims decreased by approximately 48%, while the number of White victims saw a reduction of 47%. This decline aligns with broader crime reduction trends but could also reflect shifts in reporting practices or changes in community interventions. For larceny (Figure 3b) and robbery (Figure 3c), the trends mirror each other, with both crimes showing higher victimization rates among White and Black/African American populations, while other racial groups have consistently lower numbers. Larceny incidents among Black/African American victims remained relatively stable, with a slight increase of 0.4%, while White victims experienced a decline of 12%. Robbery rates decreased by 22% for Black/African American victims and 29% for White victims, reflecting consistent declines across both groups. Assault (Figure 3d) shows similar trends, with White and Black/African American victims experiencing the highest rates, followed by a gradual decline across all racial groups. Between 2018 and 2023, assault incidents rose by 2.5% for White victims and 6.8% for Black/African American victims, indicating potential differences in reporting practices or the underlying factors driving these increases. Shooting (Figure 3e) and homicide (Figure 3f) incidents predominantly affected Black/African American and White populations. Shooting incidents among Black/African American victims decreased by approximately 11%, while the number of White victims exhibited a smaller decline of 10%. Homicide rates declined by 19% for Black/African American victims but increased by 44% for White victims, suggesting divergent trends that warrant further investigation. Arson, while less frequent overall (Figure 3g), shows significant variation, with Black/African American victims seeing a modest increase of 11%, while White victims experienced a sharp rise in attacks of 533%, potentially due to localized events or anomalies in the dataset. The rape data (Figure 3h) revealed that White and Black/African American victims have been the most affected, with White victims consistently experiencing higher rates. However, there was a decline in rape cases for all racial groups by 2023, with Black/African American victims showing a reduction of 41% and White victims a drop of 48%. Lastly, auto theft (Figure 3i) displays a significant rise, with Black/African American victims experiencing an increase of 130%, and White victims seeing a dramatic rise of 174%. Our findings highlight systemic and structural factors that may contribute to the observed disparities in victimization rates across racial groups. Previous research suggests that poverty, neighborhood characteristics, access to resources, and differential policing practices play critical roles in shaping these patterns [51; 52; 53; 54]. Additionally, racial disparities in crime reporting and enforcement may further exacerbate these trends, underscoring the importance of considering potential biases in the data. The extreme increase in argon rates for White victims suggests the need for further investigation into any localized factors driving this anomaly.