Florida Crime Rate Down, Yet Murder Up
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) -- Crime in Florida dropped 6.5-percent in 2012 from 2011, with violent crimes overall down 4.3 percent, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's annual Uniform Crime Report released Thursday.
But while incidents of robbery and aggravated assault were down, according to the FDLE report, the numbers of murders and forcible sex offenses increased.
Florida had 1,009 murders in 2012, up from 985 the previous year.
Crimes involving firearms were down 2 percent last year. But of the 1,009 murders, 721 involved firearms, up from 691 in 2011.
Non–violent crime decreased 5.9 percent last year, a reduction of 39,318 reported crimes when compared to 2011. Overall domestic violence fell 3.3 percent.
"The News Service of Florida contributed to this report."
