Violent Crimes

Fewer Murders Are Being Solved in the U.S.

Published on: January 23, 2009 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

As forensic technology is becoming more advanced, police across the country are solving fewer homicides. The FBI maintains records on murder clearances rates which refer to the percentages of murders that are solved in any given year. When murder clearance rates were first documented in the early 1960’s, about 90% of murders were solved. According to the latest FBI figures, just over 60% of murders were solved in 2007. Over that time period, the annual number of murders reported in the U.S. have increased from 4,566 to 14,811.

The decrease in the murder clearance rates can be attributed to a number of factors. In the past, more murders were committed by people who knew or had some connection with the victim. With the increase of gang and drug related murders, murders have increasingly been committed by people who had no or little connection to the victim making it more difficult to solve. When the murderer and the victim are related or otherwise acquainted, it is often easier for police to establish a suspect by analyzing motive and opportunity. Another factor is that witnesses have become less likely to give statements to police and testify in court. In some communities, people are becoming very proactive in letting residents know that if they talk to the police about a crime, there would be serious repercussions. Whatever CSI techniques may be available, witness testimony is still a critical part of most criminal investigations.

89 Year Old Kills Grandson in Possible Self Defense Case in Putnam County, Florida

Published on: October 21, 2008 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

An 89 year old stabbed and killed his 22 year old grandson in Crescent City, Florida (which is about two hours south of Jacksonville, Florida) according to an article on www.News4jax.com. The grandfather is claiming that he stabbed his grandson in self defense.

In Florida, the law of self defense was expanded making it easier for those suspected or accused of violent crimes to assert the self defense claim. The Florida law was changed couple of years ago. Under the prior Florida law, a person was required to use any reasonably possible means to escape a situation before using deadly force to meet deadly force outside of a person’s home or workplace. According to the new Florida law, individuals are not required to retreat and may use deadly force in public when they reasonably perceive a threat of deadly force to themselves or others.

Crime Rate in Jacksonville, Florida Increases

Published on: October 1, 2008 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

Crime statistics in Jacksonville, Florida show that violent crime in Jacksonville has increased from 2006 to 2007, although violent crime across the country has decreased. According to an article on Firstcoastnews.com, reports of violent crime (such as murders, rapes and robberies) in Jacksonville increased by over 22% from 2006 to 2007. The Jacksonville Journey is an initiative created by the city of Jacksonville designed to rectify the increasing violent crime trend in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Journey recommends an increased police presence in Jacksonville neighborhoods along with other strategies which can be found here.

Jacksonville, Florida is a Significant Market and Distribution Point for Illegal Drugs

Published on: September 20, 2008 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

Jacksonville, Florida is a major market for the distribution and transport of illegal drugs and drug operations, according to a recent report from the National Drug Intelligence Center. The report indicates that Jacksonville, Florida is the primary drug market in the North Florida region (which includes Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns and other surrounding counties) and a significant stopping point for illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy that are then transported to other major drug markets from Miami to Atlanta. Mexican and other Hispanic groups have large criminal drug operations that work in and through Jacksonville. Indoor cannabis (marijuana) plant operations have increased exponentially in the Jacksonville area. Seizures of indoor cannabis plants have increased by 277% in the Jacksonville/North Florida area from 2005 – 2007.

The report indicates that the biggest threat to the Jacksonville area is cocaine and crack distribution and abuse due to the prevalence of the drugs, the violence associated with them and the cocaine and crack related treatment needs. The report pessimistically indicates that demand for cocaine and crack, particularly, and heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy to a lesser extent, in the Jacksonville area is, and will remain, strong, and Mexican and other drug trafficking organizations will continue to meet the demand. The report also notes that violent crime in Jacksonville has increased. White the study did not directly correlate the abuse of cocaine, crack and other drugs to the increase in violent crime, it did suggest, as common sense would, a likely connection. With the increase in demand and supply of these drugs in the Jacksonville area, it is reasonable to suggest the increase in violent crime would continue as well.

The Law on Self Defense in Florida

Published on: August 13, 2008 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

The Jacksonville State Attorney’s Office recently decided to take another look at an incident where a Jacksonville Beach suspect (Theodore Gersdorf) cut off another person’s finger with a machete, according to an article at Jacksonville.com. Apparently, when Jacksonville police originally investigated the incident, the suspect claimed that he used the machete in self defense, and charges of aggravated battery against him were not pursued. However, according to the article, witnesses to the incident said that the suspect said he was going to his car to get “something that would take care of” the alleged victim and then left and returned with the machete. This, according to Jacksonville police, calls into question the suspect’s initial claim of self defense.

In Florida, the law pertaining to self defense allows a person to use deadly force to reasonably protect him/herself or another person from death or serious bodily harm and/or to prevent the occurrence of a forcible felony such as rape, robbery, burglary or kidnapping. In 2005, the law regarding self defense was changed to allow a person to use deadly force in public in one of the situations described above even if they could have fled the scene to avoid the threat. Prior to the change, a person who used deadly force in such a situation in public would have to show that he/she could not have otherwise escaped the threat. People in Florida were already permitted to use deadly force without fleeing in such a situation in their homes, vehicles or businesses.

Violent Crimes in Jacksonville, Florida and Other Big Florida Cities on the Increase

Published on: June 11, 2008 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

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%.