What Are the Top 4 Crimes Committed in Florida?
Published 23rd February, 2022
Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/city-fashion-man-love-7785054/
While the most common crimes committed in the United States as a whole are theft, burglary and car theft, the most common crimes in Florida are slightly different. Here are the top four crimes committed in the state of Florida, and what you should do if you or a loved one is accused of committing one of these crimes.
1. Drug Related Crimes
Offenses that relate in some way to drugs are the most common reasons for arrest in Florida. Approximately 30% of arrests in the state are for drug crimes. There is rarely a situation where a drug crime is not considered a felony in Florida, making it really important to get a lawyer if you are accused of this kind of crime (read more at this website).
Many people think that being arrested for drug possession is not a big problem compared to drug dealing, but this is incorrect. Even if you are arrested for the possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana, you can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and face up to a year in prison, as well as a possible $1,000 fine. The penalties only get steeper with the possession of more serious substances. For example, if you were carrying more than 10 grams of a Schedule One drug (e.g. heroin or ecstasy) when you were arrested, you could be charged with a first-degree felony. This carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000.
2. Theft
As the second most common crime committed in Florida, theft covers a number of situations when property is stolen. One particularly prevalent form of theft is shoplifting, whereby an individual steals something from a store. It also includes larceny – where personal property is unlawfully taken, and conversion – where someone intentionally exerts unauthorized control over someone else’s property. There are many other examples of theft types that an individual can be accused of, and someone accused of theft should gain legal advice.
The penalties for theft depend on the value of the goods stolen and the circumstances in which they were taken. Usually, property that is worth less than $400 is considered petty theft, but the charge could be a misdemeanor or a felony. The penalty can be a fine of up to $400 and up to 16 months’ imprisonment. If the value of the stolen goods is higher than $400, the crime is considered to be grand theft, and the charge is usually a felony. The fines and jail times are much higher for this kind of theft.
3. Assault
Being accused of committing assault means that you have either hurt another individual, or threatened imminent violence, even if you did not actually touch another person. This is the third most common reason for arrest in Florida, and is considered serious because injury or the threat of injury has been inflicted on another person.
There are also different classifications of the type of assault that takes place. A simple assault is the more common type of assault in Florida, and this is considered to be a second-degree misdemeanor. It carries a penalty of up to 60 days in jail, and a fine of up to $500. The more serious type of assault is an aggravated assault, which is considered to be a third-degree felony. It carries a jail sentence of up to five years. If a firearm was used to commit the aggravated assault, an individual will face heftier sentences, although they no longer face Florida’s 10-20-Life Law.
4. DUI
Driving under the influence (DUI) is the fourth most common crime people get arrested for in Florida. If someone is caught driving under the influence of alcohol, and they are found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, then they will be charged with a DUI. It is also worth noting that if a police officer judges a person to be too impaired to drive – even if the BAC is lower than the legal limit – the individual can still be charged with a driving while impaired (DWI) offense.
The penalties for a DUI depend on a number of factors, and an individual should always gain legal representation to avoid heftier penalties than necessary. For a first time DUI offense in Florida, an individual will usually be fined between $500 and $1,000, and face up to six months in jail. The driving license will also be revoked for at least 180 days, and up to one year. The penalties escalate significantly each time someone is charged with a DUI. If someone is charged for a fourth time, they will face a fine of between $2,000 and $5,000, and go to jail for up to five years. Their driving license will also be revoked permanently.