According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there were a total of 865, 272 arrests in the state of Florida (excluding traffic arrests) in 2014. Listed below are the top 10 most common crimes committed in Florida in 2014. If you have found yourself charged with any of the following crimes, contact the legal team at Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins, P.A.
Top 5 Most Common Crimes Committed in Florida
1. Drug Abuse Violations
In 2014, drug arrests accounted for almost 14 percent of the total arrests in Florida. Drug crimes include arrests made for the sale, manufacturing or possession of illegal substances. The state of Florida has worked on lessening the penalties for some of the less serious drug offenses. “The state of Florida calculated it could conceivably save more than $47 million dollars over the course of five years by simply sending 500 fewer people, convicted of relatively minor drug offenses, to prison,” according to an article by Ayo & Iken. Two bills—House Bill 99 and Senate Bill 360—already passed in an effort to reform some of the harsher Florida drug laws.
2. Property Crime
Property crime in Florida in 2014 also accounted for nearly 14 percent of the total arrests made that year. Property crimes include theft, larceny, burglary, robbery, shoplifting, arson, motor vehicle theft, and vandalism. Depending on the value of the property, theft will either be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), theft is committed every minute in the state of Florida.
3. Assault Crimes
In 2014, there were 81,138 arrests made due to non-aggravated assaults. Non-aggravated assault is distinguished from aggravated assault by the absence of any weapon or severe injury occurring to the victim.
4. Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
42,745 arrests were made in the state of Florida in 2014 due to driving under the influence. From 2003 to 2012, 8,476 people were killed in Florida in collisions involving a drunk driver. In every state, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher are considered alcohol-impaired by federal law. Make sure you aren’t impaired while driving and never drive after drinking too much.
5. Violent Crimes
According to the FBI, violent crimes are considered offenses that involve force or threat of force, and consist of four major categories: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. In Florida, there were nearly 40,000 arrests made in 2014 due to violent crimes.
Call Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins for Expert Pasco County, Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you live in the West Pasco County, Fla. or surrounding areas and are in need of legal defense for any of the above mentioned–or other–criminal offenses, our team of expert attorneys is here to help. Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins, P.A. has proudly served Florida residents with a variety of quality legal services. We are committed to creating a defense plan that will win you the justice you deserve. Call us today at (727) 478-4125, or contact us online to get started.