85% feel safe in their Jacksonville neighborhood, UNF survey finds

Majority of city residents approve of the way JSO is doing its job

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A transparency survey of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office that was conducted by the University of North Florida was released Friday, and the majority of those surveyed approve of how the JSO is doing its job.

According to the survey, the overwhelming majority, 71 percent, of Jacksonville residents approve (strongly or somewhat) of the way JSO officers are doing their job.

Most Jacksonville residents, 85 percent, agree (strongly or somewhat) that they feel safe in their neighborhood. 64 percent of those surveyed strongly or somewhat agreed that Jacksonville is overall a safe place to live.

The results come despite calls from community leaders to make changes and better address the issue of violence in Jacksonville. Throughout the week, Cure Violence held workshops that were open to the public. It's a program both Mayor Lenny Curry and State Attorney Melissa Nelson stand behind.

In the total sample of Jacksonville residents, 78 percent agree (strongly or somewhat) that JSO personnel are courteous and competent. Respondents who don't think they're courteous and competent (strongly or somewhat disagree), 30 percent said they felt that was because JSO personnel were rude, arrogant, unfriendly or mean.

Of those surveyed, 67 percent of residents strongly or somewhat agree the Sheriff's Office needs more funding. When residents were asked what one thing JSO could do for them in their neighborhood, the most popular response (45 percent) was "increase patrols/visibility/presence."

RESULTS: Read the full survey

The documented survey, which JSO said must be conducted at least once every two years, was prepared by UNF's Public Opinion Research Laboratory.


About the Authors:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.