Both violent and property crime fell in California last year — and homicides hit a record low, according to newly released state crime data.
The California Department of Justice’s annual Crime in California report, which collects data from public safety agencies in each California city, found that violent crime in the state decreased by 9% between 2024 and 2025, bringing it to the lowest number since 2015. Property crime decreased by 14%, bringing it to its lowest number since at least 1969, as far as the property crime numbers go back.
The downward trend is part of a nationwide drop in crime after pandemic-era spikes — homicides, violent crime and property crime have all seen historic declines across the country in recent years. But in a press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta attributed the change to investments in violence prevention programs, targeted task forces and more organized policing.
“These historic results show that when we invest in our communities, support law enforcement, crack down on organized crime, and expand prevention and intervention efforts, we can save lives and improve public safety,” Newsom said…