The Florida Crime Scene

Florida is a big, bustling place, with crime numbers that reflect as much. Some people might be surprised, however, to learn that some of Florida’s crime numbers are lower than the national average.

The “Tough on Crime” State 

The current governor, Ron DeSantis, prides himself on a relentless push for tougher criminal penalties. In Florida, for example, a $300 theft could land you in prison.  That compares to the penalty for a $2,500 theft in Wisconsin. The tolerance threshold for thefts is among the lowest in the nation. Even when legislators want to change the numbers in Florida, they are met by staunch resistance from retailers. That means that the number of low-level criminals in Florida is high, making the prison population one of the largest in America, with the largest felony rate in the entire country.

 Stats Worth Knowing 

Unfortunately, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has changed its method of collecting and reporting crime data, making some of their numbers less than trustworthy. Nevertheless, here’s what they’re reporting:

• Violent crime in the Sunshine State has been holding steady, with 3.8 crimes per 1,000 people. That number compares to the national average of 4.0 per 1,000, a slightly better statistic.
• Property crimes are lower in Florida than throughout the nation as well, coming in at 17.7 per 1,000, compared to the national rate of 19.6 per 1,000.
• Overall, Florida’s crime rate dropped by more than eight percent in 2021, a 50-year low, although The Times Reports that bigger cities like Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, rates of crime are not dropping as quickly as in other big cities.

Public Anxieties

Public concern about crime in Florida exceeds national trends, concerns about package thefts in Florida at a whopping 61 percent, compared to the national rate of 53 percent. Floridians are more concerned about gun violence and violent crime, as well, leading the national trends by four and two points, respectively. 22 mass shooting incidents occurred in Florida for the third year in a row, making that a key concern for Florida residents.

In fact, gun policies (like gun carry laws that don’t require a permit) and drug laws (that call for longer, tougher penalties) are connected to higher rates of violent crime. That squares with a violent crime rate that’s jumped almost 40 points in recent years in Tampa.

Aggressive Criminal Defense 

The Kissimmee criminal defense attorneys at Salazar & Kelly always fight for the best possible outcomes for you. While policies and statistics can be nuanced, the penalties associated with crime in Florida are strict and relentless.  That’s why we go to the mat for you. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.

Source:

time.com/6294021/ron-desantis-crime-florida-data/