Violent crimes, including murder, rape and robbery, increased between 2006 and 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida and other major cities in Florida, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. Of the 17 cities in Florida with over 100,000 residents, the murder rate increased in 10 of them. Murders increased in Jacksonville by 12%. In addition to Jacksonville, violent crimes increased in just about every city in South Florida with a population over 100,000. In all of Florida, Orlando was statistically the most violent city.
Despite the increase in violent crimes in Jacksonville and many other cities in Florida, the violent crime rate decreased nationwide between 2006 and 2007 by 1.4%. The decrease in violent crimes can be partially attributed to the Northeast where violent crimes decreased by 5.4%. In the South as a whole, violent crimes increased by 0.7%.