State Overview
Florida has one of the highest per-capita homicide rates among large states, driven by the combination of a large elderly population, an active drug trade, and permissive gun laws. The state's "Stand Your Ground" law has shaped the legal landscape of numerous homicide cases, including high-profile self-defense claims that have sparked national debate. South Florida — particularly Miami-Dade and Broward counties — has seen concentrated violence tied to narcotics trafficking and gang activity. Central Florida, including Orlando and Tampa, has seen rising homicide numbers in recent years. Florida's history includes serial cases like the "Florida Killing Fields" in the rural Panhandle and the case of Aileen Wuornos, the highway prostitute executed for killing seven men in the early 1990s. FBI UCR data powers The Murder Channel's Florida coverage.