Is Florida’s ‘50-year-low’ crime rate based on reliable data?
No.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent claim that crime in Florida is at a 50-year low is based on data that excludes more than 40% of the state’s population.
The Uniform Crime Reporting program collects nationwide data on crime from local law enforcement. The FBI, which runs the program, recently switched to a newer system that will provide a more detailed analysis on crime.
The new system, called the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), will offer context and circumstantial details about each crime, such as the relationship between victims and offenders, property involved in crimes and the location and time of day a crime occurred.
However, not all counties have switched to NIBRS, so their crime statistics are left to estimates instead of hard data. A concrete examination of crime rates in the state won’t happen until all counties switch to the new system.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Clinton Engelberger
Can Sarasota County’s Wellen Park community implement its own curfews?
Yes.
Wellen Park can implement a curfew because it is a privately-owned master-planned community that can set rules through its HOAs and special purpose district government.
The community recently announced a rule that anyone under 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult after 9 p.m. Anyone who doesn’t follow the rule will be asked to leave the community’s property.
HOAs and special districts can enforce their own community rules as long as they don’t violate state or federal law.
Part of Wellen Park lies within the city limits of North Port and part falls in unincorporated Sarasota County. Since Wellen Park is privately owned, the rules it sets apply to the people and buildings within its limits, not the public spaces within the city or county. This means it doesn’t need approval to implement rules as long as it doesn’t step outside its authority.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
— Clinton Engelberger
This story was originally published by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom delivering investigative journalism to Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.