According to CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly, Oakland is the 4th-most dangerous city in the United States.
Though interesting, the rankings are somewhat controversial. Oakland does live up to its reputation, I guess, especially in East Oakland and West Oakland, and recently Adams Point… but not so much where I tend to be, the downtown side of Lake Merritt. Then again, two of my friends have gotten mugged more than once in the downtown/19th Street BART area, so maybe I’m just lucky (or always on my guard enough).