Lewis Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2018 Murder of Jessie Sumlar
Violent Crime
One of the top priorities of the State Attorney’s Office is to curb violent crime and enhance public safety. The office is doing this through the work of dedicated attorneys prosecuting those who commit such acts.
The office also participates in proven prevention and intervention programs aimed to divert juvenile offenders before they commit violent crimes.
Leveraging law enforcement partnerships
In an effort to better protect the community, the State Attorney’s Office regularly partners with law enforcement at the county, state, and federal levels to combat violent crime.
A few examples of the strategies the SAO4 uses in an effort to keep the community safe are:
Jacksonville's Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), located at the SAO4, allows for interagency collaboration focused on the immediate collection, management, and analysis of crime gun evidence, used by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to generate real-time leads.
The SAO4 partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida to ensure appropriate referral and federal prosecution of criminals and drug dealers who use and possess firearms. Housed on-site, ATF reviews all firearm cases for potential federal firearm charges. This partnership allows for greater intelligence sharing and ensures armed career criminals face stricter federal minimum mandatory sentences.
An Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) was launched in Jacksonville in 2017, which provides quicker turnaround of ballistics analysis in firearms cases. Casings from crime scenes can be uploaded to generate real-time leads and assist law enforcement in solving and preventing violent crime.
The SAO4, City of Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also partnered to establish a blueprint for reducing gang violence in 2019. This long-term plan showcases initiatives currently underway and highlights others that should be considered to help curb violent crime. You can read the report here.