How prevalent is violent crime in Florida?

Participating in a violent crime can get you into deep trouble with the law. The crimes can result in felony charges, which could lead to long prison sentences and other penalties.

If you’re accused of a violent crime, it’s vital that you work with your attorney as soon as possible to defend yourself and protect your reputation. What is a violent crime though, and what should you know about these crimes in Florida?

What is a violent crime?

As its name suggests, a violent crime includes acts such as forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault and murder. Between 1995 and 2015, there has been a decrease in the number of offenses reported in Florida, with only 93,408 offenses in 2015 compared to 150,208 in 1995.

Are crime rates really dropping, or are they keeping up with the population?

In fact, the population of Florida has risen by 40 percent over the period of time above even though the number of reported violent offenses has dropped by 37.8 percent. It’s believed that the overall violent crime rate dropped by 55.6 percent in total when looking at the number of offenses per 100,000 people in the population.

What offenses are most common in Florida?

The violent offenses most common as of 2015 included aggravated assault and robbery. Robberies were committed 21,097 times, and aggravated assault took place 60,539 times. The overall rate for murders has varied but is still similar to the rate in 1995 with 1,030 reported in 1995 and 1,040 reported in 2015. The population grew by approximately 5.5 million people in that time frame.

Although violent crimes are reducing, they still happen. While you can use the statistics above to your benefit, you need to defend yourself and make sure your side of the story is told.

Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, “Violent Crime,” accessed June 02, 2017