Orlando record homicides so far this year (Jacksonville: showing, crime)

[OrlFla100]

In the Orlando City Limits there have been 26 homicides already this year. That is up by 150% from last year. We are only in June. Are there going to be over 50 murders this year? Wow is this Boston, Chicago, or NY? Orange county has had 16 murders which is actually down 9 from last year at this time. Either way there is a growing problem with overcrowded roads, crime, and overall expense. The problem is that there are too many undesirables coming into the area. Too many foreigners and I hate to sound racist but that's where the crime is coming from and quite frankly it's disgusting to see such a nice area go down hill. Crime can happen anywhere at any time but to see an area that is still somewhat nice change for the worse is quite discouraging. I live in a fairly nice neighborhood and tonight at the association meeting we hear that at the pool there are young punks that are intimidating people by the basketball courts. There was a cop at the meeting and he mentioned that there are drugs showing up. Call it what you will growing city or whatever and I'm from NY originally but it's sad to see all the riff raff coming to Florida. I've been here 15 years in Florida and I've seen the changes.

[backtofla]

ypung punks are everywhere... luckily i was never really bullied as a child, but whatever... yea i read that article before... it is defintely a problem in some parts of orlando... but i bet a lot of that is happening in certain sections --- as in places you or i wouldnt go at night. and as far as the ppl moving into the state (many of them foreigners) i know it can be frustrating...

i am in no way racist either, and here in the asheville, nc area i would say close to half the time (or perhaps more) something bad happens and it's on the news, it is a foreign name. maybe just a coincidence, who knows.

[Weloveantiques]

Orlando... Think you have it bad?? Jacksonville already has 50 + murders so far this year. Most are on the West and North sides. Not unusual to have daytime robberies and shootings there. If you can afford to live outside those areas you are safe. It's like 2 different worlds.

[backtofla]

i know some places have dangerous areas, and all big cities do, but look at it on a per capita basis. jacksonville and orlando (except for the rare occasion this year, usually they average 38 per yr in orange co/orlando).

i live in asheville, nc, and i believe there were 9 (roughly) murders last yr with a population of 68,000. 9 murders/68,000 ppl = .00013

if you live in jacksonville, there were 91 murders in 2005 with a population of 818,000. 91/818,000 = .00011

orlando, except for this year, usually averages 38 murders per yr in orange co/orlando with a population of say, 200,000. maybe more. 38/200,000 = .00019

conclusion: jacksonville has lower murder rate per capita out of the 3 towns; i found (by doing some research on the internet, that asheville had 12 murders in 2002. so = .00017

i live in a town with 8% of the population of jacksonville, yet, we had 12 murders in 2002

any comments/opinions on what i had stated in previous posts? i think my response/reasoning is pretty legit = in order to get an accurate reading on crime stats, one really has to consider the population, not just the number of incidents. you all probably agree i would guess.....

[backtofla]

"Orlando outpaced the national increase with a nearly 30 percent increase in murders. There were 22 victims in 2005, up from 17 in 2004." (orlando sentinel).

besides the unfortunate rise in crime this year, the number of crimes orlando has had the last couple years is pretty good compared to others. obviously just 1 murder is too many. in a city this large, the previous numbers are below other cities with the same amount of ppl.

[Jewels36]

One comment on the per capita basis - it usually will not tell you much about the type of crime and it's perpitrators. In smaller towns, etc. the crimes are usually commited by someone against someone they know out of rage or something... In larger areas, you have crimes being commited by gangs, etc. against strangers. It is not enough to just state the numebr of murders, but to know the type of murder is also important.

I'd much rather take my chances with a small town where the crimes commited are of a personal nature between the victim and the criminal, than in a bigger city where they are more random.

Another problem is drugs. Drugs affect all communities but the larger cities have access to more of them and more types of drugs. Although meth seems to have become a big issue for all whether in a small town, or a large town. Maybe it is because people are able to manufacture it themselves.

I have lived in several cities in 4 different states, the smaller communities have by far felt much safer and more secure.

[Weloveantiques]

We are over 70 now in Jacksonville. You may or may not think that's a big number. It is making front page news here, people want the mayor to do something about it, not sure what he can do. Alot of churches are stepping up to try to stop it.

[MTFRED]

Kansas City Had 122 Murders Last Year Up 42% From The Previous Year And It Was Voted One Of The 100 Best Cities To Live In. What Does That Tell You About Stats.

[backtofla]

good point about the stats ... it's all based on population. 122 murders in a small town is a lot more dangerous and will get you on the "most dangerous places to live" than say, the same amount in a city with millions

[michigan]

I can't believe 26 homicides is something to get bent out of shape over. Obviously, it is terrible, and even 1 homicide is outragous, but Detroit has had about 200 so far this year. The number will probably be close to 500 before the year is over. Not to mention, the massive number of non-fatal shootings... about 1000 so far this year.