California Homicide Rate Falls to Record Low in 2025 as Violent Crime and Property Crime Continue to Decline Statewide

SACRAMENTO, CA — California’s homicide rate hit its lowest level on record in 2025 as violent crime continued its long slide, according to statewide data released Wednesday by the California Department of Justice. The numbers also showed lower property crime and a higher arrest rate across the state.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said the latest reports reflect years of coordinated work by law enforcement and community partners. He pointed to programs focused on retail theft, human trafficking, fentanyl and violent offenders.

Statewide Crime Trends

The DOJ said California’s homicide rate fell 18.6% from 4.3 per 100,000 people in 2024 to 3.5 in 2025. The total number of homicides dropped to 1,374 from 1,666 the year before, while the violent crime rate fell 10.2% and the property crime rate declined 14.3%.

California’s violent crime rate remains far below its 1992 peak, when it reached 1,103.9 per 100,000 people. The state’s total arrest rate rose 3.6% last year, while homicide arrests dipped slightly to 1,269.

Sacramento Region Sees Drops

Sacramento County also logged a major decline in killings. Sheriff’s officials said the 18 homicides investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office in 2025 were the fewest since the 1980s.

In the city of Sacramento, police investigated 36 homicides in 2025, down 20% from 45 the year before after some cases were revised to reflect deaths tied to earlier crimes. Police also reported declines in car thefts, burglaries, aggravated assaults, robberies and rape.

What The Numbers Show

Firearms remained the most common weapon in California homicides, used in 66.9% of cases last year. When a victim’s relationship to the suspect was known, the largest share were killed by a friend or acquaintance, followed by strangers and then spouses, parents or children.

Among cases with a known contributing circumstance, the most common category was an unspecified argument, followed by gang-related incidents and domestic violence-related killings. Domestic violence-related calls for help fell from 163,024 in 2024 to 157,416 in 2025.

Hate Crime And Safety Data

Reported hate crimes in California decreased 3.4% last year, to 1,955 from 2,023 in 2024. Even so, hate crimes tied to racial or ethnic bias rose, and anti-Hispanic or Latino bias incidents increased 30.3%.

Bonta urged Californians to notify law enforcement and document evidence if they suspect a hate crime. The DOJ advised people in immediate danger to call 911, save evidence if it is safe to do so, and contact local community organizations for help.

TNSO covers California, Nevada, and Arizona as the story unfolds.