Reply #76: So, according to your chart....

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the index rate per 100,000 in 1986 was 8,238.0.

Compare this to the index rate per 100,000 in 2002, which was 5,398.4

Gee, that looks like the crime rate is going DOWN in Florida, according to the link you posted.

In 1986, Florida had a population of 11,657,843, with 120,977 violent crimes, total.

In 2002, Florida had a population of 16,674,608, with 127,905 violent crimes, total.

They added 5 million people to the population (or around a 45% increase in population), with a TOTAL increase of fewer than 7,000 violent crimes.

In other words, per capita violent crime has NOSEDIVED in Florida from 1986 to 2002. Your chart contradicts your premise.

On edit: Look at property crime in the same time frame (1986-2002).

Total property crime in 1986 was 839,397. In 2002, it was 772,250, despite a 45% increase in population. That's a considerable DECREASE in the total number of property crimes, despite a huge increase in total population.

So, from 1986 to 2002, ALL crime in Florida decreased.