Crime in Omaha, Nebraska has varied widely, ranging from Omaha 's early years as a frontier town with typically widespread gambling and prostitution , to civic expectation of higher standards as the city grew, and contemporary concerns about violent crimes related to gangs and dysfunctions of persistent unemployment, poverty and lack of education among some residents.
As a major industrial city into the midth century, Omaha shared in social tensions of larger cities that accompanied rapid growth and many new immigrants and migrants. By mid-century Omaha was a center for illicit betting, while experiencing dramatic job losses and unemployment because of dramatic restructuring of the railroads and the meatpacking industry, as well as other sectors.
Persistent poverty resulting from discrimination and job loss generated different crimes in the late 20th century, with drug trade and drug abuse becoming associated with violent crime rates, which climbed after as Los Angeles gangs made affiliates in the city.
Since the s crime has been reduced for the city overall. According to crime statistics released by the FBI , Omaha's rate of violent crimes per , residents has been lower than the average rates of three dozen cities of similar size. Omaha's rate of violent crime was Unlike Omaha, violent crime overall for those cities has trended upward since Rates for property crime have decreased for both Omaha and its peer cities during the same time period.
Omaha had an early history as a "wide-open town" where prostitution, gambling, drugs and alcohol were accepted. On February 12, , the city of Omaha was incorporated and in March J. Miller was appointed the city marshall. In March , the city council enlarged the police force to four men. Prostitution was a brisk trade in early Omaha, and sex workers in the Burnt District numbered 1, by the s. In , the city council created the position of "police judge" and appointed John H.
