Definition: The number of violent crimes reported per 100,000 population. Violent crimes are defined as offenses that involve face-to-face confrontation between the victim and the perpetrator, including homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Violent Crime Trends

2025 Target: 242 per 100,000

Below is a comparison of the value for this indicator among seven coastal counties: Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. These counties have been recommended as comparable counties by Sarasota County Government.

Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 Population (2016)

In 2016, the violent crime rate in Sarasota County was 228.1 per 100,000 population. This is a decrease of 57% since 1996, and a 41% decrease from 2011. Sarasota County has a lower violent crime rate than the state of Florida (439.2 per 100,000) , with a difference of 211 violent crimes per 100,000 population.

The decline of the violent crime rate is not only a local and regional trend, but it is a national and international trend which has been happening since the 1990’s. There is currently a lack of consensus in the academic community about what is causing this dramatic decrease. Some theories postulate that it could be to economic conditions, increased policing, or tough on crime policies, but little evidence exists to prove strong correlations between reduced violent crime and any of these factors.

The falling crime rate reduces strain on the judicial system while providing a gauge of overall community safety. In a report released by the Center for American Progress, eight American cities were studied to evaluate the cost of crime. It was found that crime causes loss of income for those incarcerated and increased medical bills for victims of violent crimes, thus increasing the burden on an already strained medical system and increased strain on the judicial system. The direct cost of crime ranged upwards of $200 million in Jacksonville to $1.1 billion in Chicago.