JSO Community Survey

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Community Survey 2024

Every two years, JSO commissions an independent survey of Duval County residents to gauge public perception of the department - how safe people feel, how well they think JSO is doing its job, and how they interact with and consume information from JSO. The figures below are drawn directly from 2024 Biennial Community Survey (Final)reportPublished Jun 1, 2024Accessed Sep 21, 2026.

Survey year:

View the full Community Survey series →

About this survey

Adult residents of Duval County, Florida, aged 18 or older, excluding the Beaches communities. Telephone interviews: 16.4% landline and 83.6% cell phone.

Completed Interviews
600
Margin of Error
±4%
Confidence Level
95%
Field Dates
May 6, 2024 to May 21, 2024
Weighted Results
Not disclosed

A note on methodology: Six patrol districts were stratified and oversampled to at least 125 responses per district. SPSS was used for analysis. The report does not disclose its weighting procedure. Figure 1 reports 818 district oversample responses, while the topline district frequencies total 600. Patrol-district margins of error are described as undetermined. ZIP-code cross-tabs include very small cells. Gender was assigned by interviewer observation.

Job Approval & Public Safety Perception

Out of 600 completed interviews.

Agree/Disagree: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, JSO is handling its job well.

68.1% of respondents say the JSO is handling its job well.

+13.1 pts vs 2022 (55%)-1.9 pts vs 2020 (70%)-2.9 pts vs 2018 (71%)-9.9 pts vs 2016 (78%)
Strongly Agree
33.9%
Somewhat Agree
34.2%
Somewhat Disagree
9.6%
Strongly Disagree
11%
Unsure
10.6%
Refused
0.7%

Agree/Disagree: You feel safe in your neighborhood.

89.2% of respondents feel safe in their own neighborhood.

+2.2 pts vs 2022 (87%)+5.2 pts vs 2020 (84%)+4.2 pts vs 2018 (85%)+1.2 pts vs 2016 (88%)
Strongly Agree
60.3%
Somewhat Agree
28.9%
Somewhat Disagree
4%
Strongly Disagree
5.6%
Unsure
0.8%
Refused
0.3%

Agree/Disagree: You feel safe in the areas of Jacksonville that you go to most often, for example for work or leisure.

81.5% feel safe in the areas of Jacksonville they visit most often.

+0.5 pts vs 2022 (81%)+1.5 pts vs 2020 (80%)+1.5 pts vs 2018 (80%)-4.5 pts vs 2016 (86%)
Strongly Agree
47%
Somewhat Agree
34.5%
Somewhat Disagree
8.1%
Strongly Disagree
7.7%
Unsure
2.4%
Refused
0.2%

Agree/Disagree: You think Jacksonville is, overall, a safe place to live.

67.6% think Jacksonville is, overall, a safe place to live.

+4.6 pts vs 2022 (63%)+4.6 pts vs 2020 (63%)+3.6 pts vs 2018 (64%)-2.4 pts vs 2016 (70%)
Strongly Agree
29.3%
Somewhat Agree
38.3%
Somewhat Disagree
13.7%
Strongly Disagree
14.8%
Unsure
3.7%
Refused
0.2%

Investigations, Misconduct & Accountability

Out of 600 completed interviews.

Agree/Disagree: Overall, the JSO does a good job handling complex investigations.

55.7% agree the JSO does a good job handling complex investigations.

+1.7 pts vs 2022 (54%)-7.3 pts vs 2020 (63%)-0.3 pts vs 2018 (56%)-12.3 pts vs 2016 (68%)
Strongly Agree
28.8%
Somewhat Agree
26.9%
Somewhat Disagree
7.4%
Strongly Disagree
12%
Unsure
23.9%
Refused
1%

Agree/Disagree: The JSO does a good job investigating officer-involved shootings.

53.6% agree the JSO does a good job investigating officer-involved shootings.

+6.6 pts vs 2022 (47%)-2.4 pts vs 2020 (56%)+1.6 pts vs 2018 (52%)-7.4 pts vs 2016 (61%)
Strongly Agree
31.9%
Somewhat Agree
21.7%
Somewhat Disagree
7.6%
Strongly Disagree
14.7%
Unsure
23.4%
Refused
0.7%

Agree/Disagree: The JSO does a good job of following up on allegations of police misconduct with competent administrative and, if necessary, criminal investigations.

52.7% agree the JSO does a good job following up on allegations of police misconduct.

+8.7 pts vs 2022 (44%)-1.3 pts vs 2020 (54%)+1.7 pts vs 2018 (51%)-4.3 pts vs 2016 (57%)
Strongly Agree
27.7%
Somewhat Agree
25%
Somewhat Disagree
7.3%
Strongly Disagree
16.1%
Unsure
23.4%
Refused
0.5%

Agree/Disagree: The JSO does a good job of reporting back to the community about its findings on investigations of possible police misconduct.

Only 52.2% believe the JSO does a good job reporting back to the community about its misconduct investigations.

+10.2 pts vs 2022 (42%)-3.8 pts vs 2020 (56%)-0.8 pts vs 2018 (53%)-11.8 pts vs 2016 (64%)
Strongly Agree
28.9%
Somewhat Agree
23.3%
Somewhat Disagree
10.2%
Strongly Disagree
17.6%
Unsure
19.9%
Refused
0%

Agree/Disagree: Being the victim of police brutality is something you personally worry about.

30% personally worry about being a victim of police brutality.

-7 pts vs 2022 (37%)-5 pts vs 2020 (35%)-5 pts vs 2018 (35%)
Strongly Agree
17.9%
Somewhat Agree
12.1%
Somewhat Disagree
14.3%
Strongly Disagree
51.1%
Unsure
4.7%
Refused
0%

Staffing, Funding & Personal Encounters

Out of 600 completed interviews.

Agree/Disagree: The JSO has enough officers to meet the city's needs.

30.5% agree the JSO has enough officers to meet the city's needs.

-7.5 pts vs 2022 (38%)-12.5 pts vs 2020 (43%)-7.5 pts vs 2018 (38%)-5.5 pts vs 2016 (36%)
Strongly Agree
15.5%
Somewhat Agree
15%
Somewhat Disagree
16.7%
Strongly Disagree
33.4%
Unsure
19.1%
Refused
0.4%

Agree/Disagree: The JSO is responsible with taxpayer money and allocates its resources well.

51.8% agree the JSO is responsible with taxpayer money.

+7.8 pts vs 2022 (44%)-1.2 pts vs 2020 (53%)-1.2 pts vs 2018 (53%)-8.2 pts vs 2016 (60%)
Strongly Agree
22.6%
Somewhat Agree
29.2%
Somewhat Disagree
8.8%
Strongly Disagree
14.5%
Unsure
24.4%
Refused
0.5%

Agree/Disagree: The JSO needs more funding.

62.6% agree the JSO needs more funding.

+4.6 pts vs 2022 (58%)-0.4 pts vs 2020 (63%)-4.4 pts vs 2018 (67%)-10.4 pts vs 2016 (73%)
Strongly Agree
42.3%
Somewhat Agree
20.3%
Somewhat Disagree
5%
Strongly Disagree
17%
Unsure
15%
Refused
0.4%

Thinking about encounters you have personally had with the JSO personnel, did you find them to be courteous and competent?

69.4% who personally interacted with JSO personnel found them courteous and competent.

+1.4 pts vs 2022 (68%)-1.6 pts vs 2020 (71%)-8.6 pts vs 2018 (78%)-9.6 pts vs 2016 (79%)
Definitely Yes
50.7%
Somewhat Yes
18.7%
Somewhat No
5.4%
Definitely No
9.6%
I have had no interaction with police
14.2%
Unsure
1.3%
Refused
0%

Top Public Safety Concern

Out of 600 completed interviews.

What public safety issue concerns you most, the one issue that the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office should allocate more resources to? Is it:

Gun Violence was the top concern named, cited by 37.4% of respondents as the issue JSO should prioritize.

Gun Violence
37.4%
Illegal Drug use
17.4%
Property Crimes
10.4%
Domestic Violence
7.4%
Traffic Safety
12.8%
Something else
8.7%
Unsure
5.2%
Refused
0.5%

Perceived Change Over Time

Out of 600 completed interviews.

Do you believe the JSO has gotten better in the area of accountability compared to years past, or have things gotten worse in the area of accountability?

55.9% say accountability has gotten better in recent years, vs. 15.7% who say it's gotten worse.

Much Better
25.8%
Somewhat Better
30.1%
Somewhat Worse
7.8%
Much Worse
7.9%
Unsure
27.1%
Refused
1.3%

Compared to years past, do you believe the JSO has gotten better in the area of transparency or has transparency gotten worse recently?

56% say transparency has gotten better in recent years, vs. 16.6% who say it's gotten worse.

Much Better
24.8%
Somewhat Better
31.2%
Somewhat Worse
8.4%
Much Worse
8.2%
Unsure
26.3%
Refused
1%

How about in the area of community engagement? Has the JSO done a better job with community engagement compared to years past, or have things gotten worse?

53.9% say community engagement has gotten better in recent years, vs. 18.7% who say it's gotten worse.

Much Better
21%
Somewhat Better
32.9%
Somewhat Worse
10%
Much Worse
8.7%
Unsure
26.6%
Refused
0.9%

Social Media & Local News Habits

Out of 600 completed interviews.

Would you consider following JSO on Facebook?

42.5% currently follow or would consider following JSO on Facebook.

Currently Follow
19.1%
Would Follow
23.4%
Would NOT Follow
25.6%
Don't Use It / Unsure / Refused
31.9%

Would you consider following JSO on Instagram?

22% currently follow or would consider following JSO on Instagram.

Currently Follow
8.8%
Would Follow
13.2%
Would NOT Follow
29.2%
Don't Use It / Unsure / Refused
48.8%

Would you consider following JSO on Twitter?

16.3% currently follow or would consider following JSO on Twitter.

Currently Follow
6.4%
Would Follow
9.9%
Would NOT Follow
27.7%
Don't Use It / Unsure / Refused
56%

Would you consider following JSO on YouTube?

27% currently follow or would consider following JSO on YouTube.

Currently Follow
8.3%
Would Follow
18.7%
Would NOT Follow
32.3%
Don't Use It / Unsure / Refused
40.7%

Would you consider following JSO on LinkedIn?

14.9% currently follow or would consider following JSO on LinkedIn.

Currently Follow
4.7%
Would Follow
10.2%
Would NOT Follow
33.3%
Don't Use It / Unsure / Refused
51.9%

During a typical week, how many days do you watch LOCAL news on TV, not including sports?

Respondents watch local TV news an average of 3.3 out of 7 days a week.

+0.3 days vs 2022 (3 days)-0.7 days vs 2018 (4 days)-0.8 days vs 2016 (4.1 days)
0
32.3%
1
7.3%
2
6.6%
3
7.2%
4
4.3%
5
9.8%
6
1.8%
7
29.5%
Unsure
0.9%
Refused
0.2%

During a typical week, how many days do you read the LOCAL news in a PRINTED newspaper, not including sports? Please just think about the printed paper, not what you may see online.

Respondents read local news in a printed newspaper an average of 0.6 out of 7 days a week.

No change vs 2022 (0.6 days)-0.5 days vs 2018 (1.1 days)-0.7 days vs 2016 (1.3 days)
0
82.6%
1
3.3%
2
2.1%
3
1.2%
4
1.9%
5
0.3%
6
0%
7
5.7%
Unsure
1.8%
Refused
1.1%

Thinking about online news, during a typical week, how many days do you watch, read or listen to LOCAL news on the Internet, again, not including sports?

Respondents watch, read, or listen to local news online an average of 3.5 out of 7 days a week.

-0.8 days vs 2022 (4.3 days)-0.2 days vs 2018 (3.7 days)-0.7 days vs 2016 (4.2 days)
0
25.8%
1
6.7%
2
8.6%
3
10.7%
4
6.1%
5
7.1%
6
2.2%
7
30.6%
Unsure
2.1%
Refused
0.2%