California’s violent crime rate edged up in 2023, continuing a post-pandemic trend, while property crime declined in most counties, according to adjusted data from the state’s Department of Justice.

The Public Policy Institute of California reported that violent crime statewide increased by 1.7% to 503 incidents per 100,000 residents — 15.4% higher than in 2019.

Homicides and rapes declined by 13.7% and 3.0%, respectively, but robberies rose 3.8%, and aggravated assaults increased 1.7%. Despite recent declines, gun-related homicides and aggravated assaults remained well above 2019 levels.

The 2023 data is the latest available from the state DOJ.

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Fresno’s Property Crime Falls, SJV Highest in Violent Crime

Of California’s 58 counties, 32 saw violent crime rise in 2023. Seven counties recorded increases of 20% or more, though five of them have small populations where crime rate fluctuations tend to be more pronounced.

Violent crime climbed in 9 of the state’s 15 largest counties, with three reporting double-digit increases.

Ventura County saw the sharpest rise at 47.2%, though it still maintains the lowest violent crime rate among major counties. Alameda County followed with a 39.2% jump, while Kern County’s rate increased by 13.9%.

Property crime fell in 46 counties, including 9 of the 15 largest. At least 10% declines were recorded in 29 counties, among them Kern, -15.8%; Fresno, -12.6%; and Santa Clara, -10.6%.

However, property crime rose in six major counties: Alameda, 28.0%; San Joaquin, 10.2%; Contra Costa, 7.7%; San Bernardino, 6.6%; Los Angeles, 4.7%; and Orange, 1.0%.

Regionally, the San Joaquin Valley reported the highest violent crime rate, while the San Francisco Bay Area had the highest property crime rate.

See all the 2023 California crime data at PPIC.

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Fresno Police Report 2024 Violent Crime Drop

Interim Police Chief Mindy Casto announced in a Jan. 6 press conference that homicides in 2024 dropped to 30, down from 35 in 2023. The decline continues a downward trend from 60 in 2022 and 74 in both 2020 and 2021.

Casto also reported a 97% clearance rate for homicides last year, which included solving cases from previous years.

Shootings saw a sharp decline, with 221 incidents in 2024 compared to 359 in 2023. The number peaked at 732 in 2020 before falling to 688 in 2021 and 449 in 2022. The number of gunshot victims also dropped, with 107 reported in 2024, down from 143 in 2023 and 218 in 2022. The department resolved 78% of cases last year.

Other violent crime metrics also improved. Aggravated assaults totaled 2,817 in 2024, down slightly from 2,890 in 2023. The city also recorded a 16.6% decrease in rapes and a 1.6% drop in robberies.

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Burglaries declined, with commercial burglaries down 21.2% and residential burglaries falling 11.9%.

Casto credited the improvements to community engagement, noting the department participated in 1,398 community events in 2024. She emphasized that enforcement and community engagement must go hand in hand.

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