Gov. Jeb Bush, Attorney General Charlie Crist and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell recently released the state’s 2004 Annual Uniform Crime Report and announced Florida’s index crime rate has reached a 34-year low. The index crime rate dropped by 6.0% in 2004, compared to 2003.

“Florida has been a national leader in criminal law reforms,” said Gov. Bush. “The continual decrease in our crime rate illustrates the effectiveness of the state’s tough stance on crime.”

The number of reported violent crimes fell 0.4% in 2004, while the volume of nonviolent crimes dropped 4.0% from last year. Compared to 2003, the rate of violent crime (murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery, and aggravated assault), calculated as the number of crimes per 100,000 residents, decreased by 3.0%, while the rate of non-violent crime (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) decreased by 6.5%.

According to FDLE statistics, the 2004 crime rate in Hamilton County dropped 7.1% from 2003. Of the 474 crimes reported, there were no murders, 1 rape, 14 robberies, 81 aggravated assaults, 106 burglaries, 229 larcenies and 43 motor vehicle thefts.

“The continuing decreases in violent crime, including domestic violence, is good news for the citizens of our state,” said Attorney General Crist. “The efforts of law enforcement and the passage of tougher laws continue to pay dividends in public safety. Florida has made real progress in our fight against crime, and there is always room for improvement.”

The rate of reported index crime, which is based on murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft, decreased for the 13th straight year. The report also revealed crime volume, the actual number of reported crimes, decreased 3.5%.

“Although we are experiencing the lowest crime rate in 34 years, we cannot let down our guard. Law enforcement officers are at work 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Commissioner Tunnell said. “We must ensure that they continue to have the support necessary to do their jobs. With the leadership of the Governor and the Legislature, as well as the active assistance of the citizens of Florida, we must continue to focus our commitment and resources on the safety and security of the people in our state.”

In 1999, Governor Bush signed the “10-20-LIFE” crime bill into law, requiring a minimum 10-year sentence for crimes committed with a gun, a 20-year sentence for firing a gun during the commission of a crime and 25 years to life if the bullet fired causes death or injury. Since 1998, the volume of crimes committed with guns has decreased 18.6%, while the rate of gun crime has gone down 30.3% in that same period.

The number of reported domestic violence offenses decreased 0.8%, and arrests for these crimes decreased 1.5% from last year. Spouses and cohabitants continue to account for more than half the victims of domestic violence crimes. Domestic violence offenses accounted for 26.3% of comparably reported violent crimes. Slightly less than one-fifth (19.5%) of all murders were domestic violence-related incidents.

This year’s report includes data submitted by 408 local, county and state law enforcement agencies, including all 67 sheriffs’ offices.

The complete 2004 Annual Crime in Florida Uniform Crime Report, including county-by-county breakdowns, can be found on FDLE’s Web site http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/fsac/UCR/index.asp.