Arrests at Leon County schools declined sharply during the 2025-26 school year while the use of alternatives to arrest increased significantly, according to the latest annual report from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy program.
LCSO reported 60 arrests across the schools it serves in 2025-26, down from 91 the previous year, a decline of approximately 34%. At the same time, deputies recorded 132 civil citations and 761 diversions, compared with 106 civil citations and 276 diversions in 2024-25.
The change was particularly noticeable at Leon County’s five major public high schools. Arrests at Leon, Lincoln, Rickards, Godby and Chiles fell from 65 in 2024-25 to 30 in 2025-26 — a 54% decline.
The latest numbers reverse the trend highlighted by Tallahassee Reports last year, when arrests at the five high schools increased 38%, from 47 in 2023-24 to 65 in 2024-25…