Gun Violence Trends You Probably Didn’t Know

According to recent research from the Miami Police Department, 650 people have been shot in Miami between 2011 and 2015. Only 94 of those cases were completely cleared by the police.

It is important to keep in mind that even though the number of shootings between each year in Miami has not substantially increased, the clearance rate in terms of arrests has decreased dramatically. Murder cases have also taken a similar disturbing route.

In fact, most Miami residents aren’t surprised to hear that Miami is one of the top ten most dangerous cities in the United States.

Read on to learn more about the statistics behind drive-by shootings in Miami, and what your legal rights are if you are arrested for committing a similar crime.

Murders and Shootings in Miami

Between 2012 and 2015, more than 282 individuals were killed in the city of Miami. Less than one half of those cases led to an arrest. Since 2010, the clearance rate for the city of Miami has decreased significantly.

The average clearance rate for shootings and murders nationally is 64% but an arrest was only made in Miami in one out of every three murders.

According to the police and crime experts, there are multiple reasons behind the decrease in clearance of these homicide cases. Some individuals may be scared to speak up for fear of retaliation, and there few witnesses and resources available for gang fights involving drug issues.

Furthermore, the Miami police force is also focused on preventing crime, so they cannot focus all of their efforts towards resolving crime at the same time.

Unfortunately, these murder statistics about Florida are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential gun violence…

Also Read : The Biggest Trends in Drive-By Shootings in Miami We’ve Seen

What To Do If You Are Arrested or Named as a Suspect

Authorities in Miami and across Florida are attempting to crack down on gun violence, but it is imperative that you understand your rights as well as what you should do next if you were accused of perpetrating a drive-by shooting or another gun crime.

In Florida, it’s a felony to throw or shoot a deadly weapon. This could be a broad term applied to many different situations such as throwing a rock through a window or a gun being fired during a drive-by shooting.

If you have been named as a potential perpetrator of a drive-by shooting, then don’t ignore this. These allegations should be taken seriously as they can affect the rest of your life.

With police focused on cutting down crime and solving as many cases as possible, you need a Miami criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

This is true even if you believe that you are innocent and that a witness or victim has wrongly identified you. The penalties of being convicted for any gun crime in the state of Florida are quite serious and you need to be prepared to handle your defense seriously.

Violent crime laws in Florida refer to individuals who wantonly or maliciously shoot at, within, into, or throw any hard substance that could generate death or serious bodily harm.

In order to be convicted under Florida’s state laws regarding the shooting or throwing of a deadly missile, the government is responsible for proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you did indeed throw it or shoot it.

The prosecution also needs to show that you did so into a public or private building or into a vehicle that was being used by someone else and that this was done maliciously.

If you are convicted of a gun crime like this in Miami, then this could be the beginning of many problems for your future. The majority of convictions like this are classified as second-degree felonies and can be punished by up to $10,000 in fines and up to 15 years in prison.

What About the Stand-Your-Ground Law?

Florida is generally favorable towards gun rights, and one of the most important laws you need to be aware of is the “stand-your-ground law“.

Where there have been many misunderstandings surrounding this law, it’s best to speak with a criminal defense lawyer if you are looking for help to determine whether or not the stand-your-ground law applies.

The “stand-your-ground” law means that individuals are justified for using deadly force and are not responsible for retreating, if you believe that this amount of force is necessary to prevent immediate death or critical bodily harm, or to prevent the commission of a felony perpetrated by someone else.

You might also be justified in using deadly force if you do this during a vehicle or home invasion. This is just one possible defense if you have been accused of a Miami gun crime.

Also Read : Florida Senate Revisits Stand Your Ground

Protect Your Future with a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Miami

As you can imagine from reading through this material, these are serious charges that typically require a lot of evidence and case preparation. Getting advice from an experienced Miami criminal defense lawyer should be your first step to protecting your future.