How much crime is there in California?

• Following Long-Term Downward Trend, Reports of Crime Increased Around the Pandemic… After hitting some of the lowest rates recorded in decades, reports of some categories of crime began increasing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, between 2019 and 2021, reports of homicide increased 43 percent. Similarly, between 2019 and 2023, reports of aggravated assault and motor-vehicle theft increased by 27 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Despite these increases, however, reported crime remained far below historical highs reached in the early 1980s and 1990s. Similar trends occurred on a national level. (For more California crime data see the Department of Justice Open Justice website.)

• …But Recently Started Declining With Many Types Hitting Multi-Decade Lows in 2025. Most types of reported crime began declining in 2024 and many reached multi-decade lows following further, notable declines in 2025. For example, reports of homicide and robbery declined by 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in 2025. This brought both to their lowest level in over 60 years. Additionally, all types of property crime were at the lowest levels reported since more comprehensive data on these crimes became available in 1969. However, reports of some types of crime in 2025 remained above pre-pandemic levels. For example, aggravated assault was 14 percent higher. Notably, shoplifting—a component of larceny-theft—was 36 percent higher. (For more on recent changes in retail-theft, which includes shoplifting, please see Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change.)

Last Updated: July 2026