Florida Violent and Overall Crime Decreased in 2021

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – According to the annual crime report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for January-December 2021, overall crime decreased by nearly 10%.

Overall “index crime,” which includes violent and property crime, decreased 8.3% from 2020. Among index crimes, violent decreased 3% while property decreased 9.4%.

The total crime rate decreased 9.5%: violent by 4.3% and property by 10.7%.

The report found that while total and index crime decreased considerably, arrests increased 6.8%.

The groups of index offenses with the largest decrease robbery by 17.5%, burglary by 15.1%, and murder by 14.2%. Larceny decreased by 8.8%, motor vehicle theft by 6.4%, and aggravated assault by 1.6%.

The only category among index offenses that increased was rape, up 13.7%. Rape by utilizing firearms and knives decreased.

Domestic violence decreased by 2.5%.

Among property crimes, approximately $1.2 billion was stolen, but nearly half ($446 million) was recovered by law enforcement.

Total index crimes in Florida have been decreasing throughout the entirety of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. The only year violent crime increased was in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, by 2.7%, ticking down 3% in 2021.

During the gubernatorial debates between DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist, the former governor falsely made a blanket claim that “crime is up under Governor DeSantis.” Crist went on to lose to DeSantis by nearly 20-points.

Florida’s top cop, Attorney General Ashley Moody, has prioritized strict law enforcement and cracking down on all forms of crime.

In late November, Moody sent a stern warning to criminals underlining state leadership’s commitment to ridding Florida’s streets of criminals: “It’s very simple in Florida. We respect our cops, we give them the tools they need. And we will say Florida nation, be be aware if you move here, Florida is a law and order state, so if you’re a criminal and you’re residing in Florida, you may want to get out.”

Moody resoundingly won re-election with more than 60% of the popular vote vs Democrat Aramis Ayala, a margin of more than 20 points.

DeSantis has repeatedly rejected the Democrats’ ‘Defund the Police’ movement in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots. His administration prioritized law enforcement, providing hefty bonuses and incentivizing out-of-state officers to bring their talent to the Sunshine State.

“Proud to stand for law and order by prohibiting the defunding of law enforcement and providing $1,000 bonuses to all sworn law enforcement officers in Florida,” DeSantis said over the summer.

In March, DeSantis announced he will award a round of $1,000 bonuses for sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs: “Whether it’s a sheriff’s department and sheriff’s deputies, whether it’s a municipal police department, fire, paramedics, EMTs, you name it, you’re eligible.”

“We’re proud to be able to stand with our great first responders in the state of Florida,” he said.

In June, DeSantis signed SB 226, the Care for Retired Police Dogs Program Act, ensuring caregivers are given proper monetary support to care for retired police dogs. “We’ve also got to think of these guys here on all four legs,” DeSantis said. “A lot of these canines are instrumental in helping to keep our community safe.”

The governor’s Freedom First Budget allocates $5,000 signing bonuses for new recruits and out-of-state officers, $1,000 bonuses for local officers and first responders, $5 million for law enforcement training scholarships, $15 million for pay raises in 29 fiscally constrained rural counties, $13.2 million for youth challenge programs and mentoring initiatives, and a 15% average pay increase for state sworn law enforcement officers.

“You know, we’re not just talking in Florida–we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We’re stepping up to the plate, and doing things legislatively that are making a huge, huge difference. And today is yet another example of things that we’re doing that are really groundbreaking,” DeSantis said a press conference earlier this year where he signed HB 3, legislation that “encourages Floridians to join the law enforcement profession” and incentivizes out-of-state officers to “bring their skills” to Florida.