Compton

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Compton is a city located in Southern Los Angeles County, California, USA, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1888. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493. Although considered a suburb of Los Angeles, Compton is often labeled as an "inner-city" community primarily due to poverty and the elevated crime rate found in the city. Compton is known for being a city with one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States. In 2006, the Morgan Quitno Corporation rated Compton as the most dangerous city with a population of 75,000 to 99,999, and 4th most dangerous overall. Compton also has a homicide rate about eight times higher than the national average, most of which are gang killings. Economic conditions and Compton's location as the center of the South Bay "ghettos" make crime prevention more difficult. Crime has not been as severe as it was in the 1980s and early 1990s, during the crack (cocaine) epidemic. Compton had 72 murders in 2005, which is a per capita rate significantly higher than the national average for small cities. Recently in an effort to combat this gun violence the Compton citizens were given the option to hand over their guns to the police, and receive a $100 check for various goods. The police have to this date (25 Dec 2005) received over 200 guns. During 2006, Compton has deployed twice as many Sheriff deputies and the murder rate has decreased from 22 in 4 months, to just 5. The city has, at times, been notorious for gang violence. Many gangs exist which have both African Americans and Latinos as members, however, the Crips and the Bloods are the most well-known gangs in the area. Disputes between the two gangs have been recreated in various films. Compton's violent reputation was perhaps popularized by the rise to prominence of the local gangsta rap group N.W.A. during the late 1980s.