Blog post 1 - Crime rates in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola Florida is a place I can call home, however after moving back to Birmingham I think I would be hesitant to ever raise a family there. Visiting my grandparents and completing my high school education in Pensacola showed me the pros and cons of living there. I learned what parts were considered safe and what parts I needed to try my hardest to avoid. Over recent years, the crime rate in Pensacola has increased. Pensacola's property crime rate and violent crime rate alone are way above average of both Florida and the United States. Crime rates. Recent studies have shown that 1 out of every 162 people in Pensacola will succumb to being a victim of a violent crime.
Why is this a problem? A high crime rate instills a sense of fear and panic in the community. The fear of not allowing your children to play in the front yard or walk to the local ice cream shop down the road. The fear of sending your kids to school and having them get involved with the wrong crowd. While attending my high school in Pensacola, I was never allowed to go to the “rival” side of a stadium during any athletic event. Police officers would not let it happen because of the violence that had occurred so many times in the past. Kids were jumped, mugged, and even stabbed due to inner city gangs. Also, crime rates increasing could lead to a decrease in city population.
One member of the community states “the area has more crime than New York City, the crime rate is 3X the national average.” They even continue to mention that they have already put their house up for sale and will be moving soon. Another person added that this city has even welcomed crime by not dealing with an obvious drug issue that has further increased crime rates. However, not all members of this community see Pensacola this way. One member defends her beloved home by listing all the great aspects of this beautiful beach city. The criticism I have for them though, is that they blamed all crime on the homeless population and furthermore said they are being “dealt with.” Obviously enough people experiencing homelessness are not the only reason crime exists.
One solution that could prevent some of the crime occurring in Pensacola is to participate in a community plan involving drug distribution. This solution is recognized by the NIDA. In this plan, the main drug being sold or distributed needs to be identified. Using this information, different prevention programs can either be created or built upon. Next different long term and short terms goals for the community need to be created so that there is always something to improve upon. Lastly assessments need to be taken on the prevention programs and their progress within the community. This type of approach could decrease the amount of crime caused by drugs.
Other solutions are different neighborhood clean-up programs, house safety tips, and personal safety tips. Neighborhood clean-up programs provide funding to rehabilitating areas that are dilapidated. These types of areas have been proven to support a higher crime rate because they are perceived as vulnerable. House safety tips are simple ways to keep your home safe from property crimes such as burglary and larceny. This includes using a deadbolt lock, having a well-lit lawn, and using an alarm system. Lastly, personal safety tips include being observant of your surroundings, carrying mace, and not going shopping at late times of the night.