According to the U.S. Peace Index (USPI) Report, released by the Insitute for Economics and Peace -- an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization -- Maine is the most peaceful state for the 11th consecutive year while Louisiana is the least peaceful state.
The USPI "measures peacefulness according to five indicators: the number of homicides, number of violent crimes, the incarceration rate, number of police employees and the availability of small arms." The report also showed that in the U.S. over the last 20 years, direct violence hase seen a substantial and sustained reduction: The homicide rate, for instance, has reduced by half since 1991.
