A rise in reported kidnappings and abductions in Dallas has disproportionately affected women and girls of color.
According to the City of Dallas victim demographics dashboard, there have been 173 incidents this year as of December 29, marking a 15.3% increase over the 150 incidents recorded during the same period last year.
Of the total number of kidnapping victims, 137 were female, out of which the overwhelming majority were either black or Latina. Black women and girls comprised 35.8% of all female victims, while some 48.9% of female victims were either Latina or Hispanic.
In both cohorts, City data indicates there have been spikes in kidnappings. Among Hispanic and Latina women and girls, there has been a 26.4% spike year over year. For black women and girls, the increase was logged at 11.4%. The median age of such victims is currently 27.
Of the remaining female victims, 20 were classified as white, and one was logged as “AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA NATIVE.”
When looking at where in Dallas women and girls were getting kidnapped, regardless of race, Council Member Omar Narvaez’s District 6 saw the most reported incidents with 27, followed by Council Member Kathy Stewart’s District 10.
The Dallas Police Department has been short-staffed for years. As a previous analysis by the City recommended, Dallas needs a police force of around 4,000 officers to properly maintain public safety. DPD currently only has only about 3,000 in the field.
The effects of the staffing shortage have been felt in Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood logs much more criminal activity than Fort Worth’s city center, which is reportedly patrolled by a special neighborhood police unit that works alongside private security guards.
