[jojajn]

This just came out today. You can look up the crime rate for each county in Florida!

Search: Florida crime statistics compiled by FDLE -- OrlandoSentinel.com

[beachmouse]

A quick google turned up the following quote:

Former, current Lee sheriff battle over crime statistics : Naples Daily News : News, Weather and Entertainment for Southwest Florida

In Florida, crime rates have fallen substantially in the past seven years, from 55.8 crimes per 1,000 people in 2001 to 46.9 in 2008.

Another bit from a tv news report:

Crime rate up slightly in Florida - Bay News 9

Even with the slight increase, overall crime in Florida last year was still far below where it was in the 1980s and 1990s. The crime rate last year was 35 percent lower than it was a decade ago.

So a slight uptick, but nowhere close to where it was in the 'Miami Vice' days.

[MiamiRob]

beach in October of last year the city of Miami which has nearly a half million people did not have one murder for the entire month. Florida for being the 4th largest state in the US doesn't come off as dangerous as some would say. The economy in a down turn will always produce a spike in crime.

[beachmouse]

I live in a suburb that essentially has no violent crime against strangers, and I feel perfectly comfortable running alone through it at the crack of dawn. (Provided I wear light easy to see clothing for the spots where I have to cross a street or driveway)

As for property crime, it happens to some degree everywhere. But I'd put the breakdown as about 70% involving things stolen from unlocked cars, 20% involving things stolen from unlocked houses while the residents were gone, and about 10% where the theives actually went through a lock.

End of the day, it comes down to locking your darn doors, and being realistic about the area around you. There are parts of Ft. Walton Beach I'd only run in after dark if I had a partner with me.

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

I live in a suburb that essentially has no violent crime against strangers, and I feel perfectly comfortable running alone through it at the crack of dawn. (Provided I wear light easy to see clothing for the spots where I have to cross a street or driveway)

As for property crime, it happens to some degree everywhere. But I'd put the breakdown as about 70% involving things stolen from unlocked cars, 20% involving things stolen from unlocked houses while the residents were gone, and about 10% where the theives actually went through a lock.

End of the day, it comes down to locking your darn doors, and being realistic about the area around you. There are parts of Ft. Walton Beach I'd only run in after dark if I had a partner with me.

Right now with the economy as it is, I think it is good advice for anyone anywhere to lock their doors. There are opportunists who would take advantage of a situation if it is easy enough for them.

[inthecut]

Honestly, the high proportion of unskilled, marginal folks in Florida jacks up the crime rate. Go anyplace stable, and you will see a reasonable crime rate. Go to an area with a high turnover, and lots of rentals, and you will see high crime. Transience +
high umemployment rate + many folks that either won't speak english, or won't abide by cultural norms = high crime.....which is a good swath of Florida.....not all, by any means, but a good chunk.....

[sherry07]

so about dunnellon? any opinions about the schools, crime, and please, why are there so many sex offenders???? are the laws different in florida?
is citrus really safer? and the schools? what makes them so bad?

[GuitarNhand]

Originally Posted by inthecut

Honestly, the high proportion of unskilled, marginal folks in Florida jacks up the crime rate. Go anyplace stable, and you will see a reasonable crime rate. Go to an area with a high turnover, and lots of rentals, and you will see high crime. Transience +
high umemployment rate + many folks that either won't speak english, or won't abide by cultural norms = high crime.....which is a good swath of Florida.....not all, by any means, but a good chunk.....

Very interesting post. I also happen to agree about the unstable and transient nature of FL, and the people who dont assimilate and wont abide by cultural norms. I think the cultural norms and folks that do not abide by them explains a lot of the rude and unskilled driving habits too.

[yamahastar]

The places in Florida that have problems with crime are the larger cities - just like larger cities ANYWHERE in the U.S. People talk a lot about the crime in Jacksonville, but look at the size of the place! Almost any inland area - where towns are smaller - are nice, safe places to raise a family. The problem is, people what to live near the coast - where there are usually larger population centers, more tourists, thus, more crime. Living by the coast is very expensive, oh, and did I mention the hurricanes?

[ChrisA70]

Name the state with no crime..... It' everywhere.