California recorded significant declines in several major crime categories last year, including homicides, robbery, and property crimes, according to data released by state officials. The 2025 statistics mark some of the lowest crime rates the state has seen in decades.
The number of homicides fell from 1,666 in 2024 to 1,374 in 2025, representing a 17.5% decrease. This brought the homicide rate down to 3.5 per 100,000 residents, the lowest since the state began tracking such data more than 60 years ago. Robbery rates dropped by nearly 20%, while overall violent crime decreased by just over 10%. Property crimes also declined by 14.3%, with motor vehicle thefts experiencing the steepest reduction at 25.8%.
The state Department of Justice’s 2025 California Crime Report showed arrests increased by 3.6% compared to the previous year. Officials credited enhanced law enforcement strategies for the improvements, pointing to expanded task forces addressing organized retail theft, human trafficking, fentanyl distribution, and violent offenders.
“Our policing has gotten smarter, more organized, and more coordinated,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. Governor Gavin Newsom echoed this, noting that every major statewide crime category saw a decline during 2025, reflecting meaningful progress in public safety.
Los Angeles officials reported similar trends, with preliminary data indicating the city’s crime levels are at the lowest point since the 1960s. However, some experts caution against drawing broad conclusions from year-to-year shifts, noting that fluctuations can arise from changes in reporting, classification, and other variables.
Jeff Asher, a crime data analyst, remarked that the sustained reduction in homicides over recent years aligns with earlier trends and adds confidence to the official figures. “It’s been a tremendous drop in murder over the last four or so years,” he said.
Though overall hate crime incidents declined by 3.4% statewide, hate crimes motivated by racial or ethnic bias increased by 6.2% in 2025. Within this category, Hispanics or Latinos experienced the largest surge in targeted offenses, rising 30.3%, partly driven by animus against undocumented immigrants. Hate crimes based on gender bias also grew by nearly 24%.
Attorney General Bonta acknowledged the persistence of intolerance despite the overall drop in reported hate crimes. He emphasized the importance of accessible data to combat these offenses and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
“Too many Californians continue to be targeted because of who they are, where they come from, how they worship, who they love, or how they identify,” Bonta said.