Is the crime rate significantly LOWER now in the Orlando Metro area? (Winter Springs: transplants, 2009)

[nb1968]

One murder or home invasion is one too many, . . . but I have noticed that we are NOT seeing the daily headlines with mutliple incidents like we used to.
Hope this is a positive trend that continues.

Did it seem like crime spiked right after Hurricane Katrina?
A lot of good New Orleans people were relocated to Orlando, but a high number of criminals came also.
I am not just making this up to be 'politically incorrect.' I have heard from people who spoke to those being arrested, that the majority admitted to being from New Orleans.
also
after viscious attacks with Military type assault weapons, the police Chief in Atlanta said that his city had never seen the level of brazen violence brought in by New Orleans thugs.
SO,
could it be that all the New Orleans folks, (good and bad) are finally trickling back home, resulting in lower crime for us all?
Because typically the crime rate increases during such a bad economy like we have now.
Or are the police chiefs just doing such an awesome job?

[Practice]

I don't know if Katrina and New Orleans transplants had anything to do with an increase in crime. I think I heard that our murder rate is lower this year than last year, which would be great, but I don't have any statistics. I sure hope things are getting better though.

[pianogal]

Although I don't know the reason, I saw the numbers on a news report last week. The murder rate is significantly lower this year.
Crime in the Parramore area, which used to be the worst in Orlando, is also down a lot. Sorry, I don't have the exact figures in front of me..but they would be easy to find.

[Pete C]

Here is the murder tally page which updates throughout the year. 39 so far and it is mid-August. On pace to be literally half of what was going on last year. The numbers would predict that we will be back at the 2004 level at the current pace.

Orlando-Area Murder Map 2009 -- OrlandoSentinel.com

[JustinsMama]

So according to that link, most of the murders can be associated with drug dealing, etc.? So if you're not participating in that sort of activity or with people associating with that sort of activity, (and in the areas mentioned) regular folk for the most part should be good...right?

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by JustinsMama

So according to that link, most of the murders can be associated with drug dealing, etc.? So if you're not participating in that sort of activity or with people associating with that sort of activity, (and in the areas mentioned) regular folk for the most part should be good...right?

Typically that is the root cause of a lot of the violence here, however random crime does occur. Stick with the good neighborhoods and get an alarm system. There are plenty of good neighborhoods here, and I drive around the metro area a lot. I rarely feel unsafe, and just don't venture into the known bad areas.

[JustinsMama]

If we do ever move down there, it will be the outskirt towns (Clermont, Winter Springs, Winter Garden, etc.), with hopefully not much need to be going into Orlando anyway (unless getting a job there).

[Pete C]

I wouldn't ignore downtown though. It is quite nice there around Lake Eola, College Park, and downtown Winter Park if you want to experience a more eclectic vibe or interesting shops and restaurants than you get in the burbs. Plenty safe in the day and evenings, and at night there are just more drunk people. Just don't wander into Parramore.

[GLS2010]

Originally Posted by JustinsMama

If we do ever move down there, it will be the outskirt towns (Clermont, Winter Springs, Winter Garden, etc.), with hopefully not much need to be going into Orlando anyway (unless getting a job there).

The suburbs are great places to live, but you shouldn't ignore the city of Orlando, it has A LOT to offer. Concerts, festivals, resturants, clubs, shopping, theme parks, NBA basketball games, theater, big events/shows (like wrestle mania, Monster jam, etc.), etc. Most of the city is safe, just don't wonder into parramore (which you shouldnt cause none of the things i listed are in parramore)

But, i'm glad to see that the crime rate is going down.

[Crane's Rooster]

The crime rate, murder specifically has dropped dramatically recently. However, the reason is not Katrina related. Although Orlando did some Katrina relocators it was not significant. The majority of Katrina evacuees ended up in Houston and other parts Texas, a very small amount reached FL. The reason crime was skyrocketing a few years back is attributable to various factors, one of which is and still will remain the main contributing factors, drugs. The overwhelming majority of the murders in recent years have been drug related. Another factor was the release of many felons who were convicted back in the late 80's and early 90's. Many of these releasees where hitting the streets at the same time due to the 80's/90's tough on crime stance. All of the sudden you had older harden guys coming out to try to reclaim the streets from alot of young perpatrators.

As for the reason's it has dropped. Many of the territorial drug fueds have quieted down. Many young juveniles have hit adulthood or were prosecuted as adults. And finally, to it's credit, the local goverments and law enforcement have taken a different approach to combating the crime. There is a heavier emphasis now on prevention and deterence. Many kids when given the chance would rather play sports than run the streets. The new community policing models seem to be have better effect than the prior strategies.