JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Officials with the Jacksonville area legal aid office said the rising foreclosure rate has a connection to the increase in crime and the murder rate.

At a news conference in Northwest Jacksonville on Tuesday, they cited a Chicago area study and used local crime rates to make their case that the higher the number of foreclosures in a neighborhood, the more likely there would be more violent crime and murders.

They said less homeowners, and empty homes are contributing factors.

"You drive through here, you're going to see lots of abandoned homes and they're used as crack houses and they're scenes of crime and crimes are planned there. It's a downward spiral that's caused from losing homes," said Jacksonville Legal Aid Executive Director Michael Figgins. "You look back at a time when the streets were a lot safer, one thing we had in common was a lot of homes, and mom and dad were the cop."

Officials said their goal in releasing the information was to try to lower the number of foreclosures. They said people who need help with their mortgages should seek out a lawyer or legal aid.