A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California reveals a slight uptick in violent crime across the Golden State. In 2023, the violent crime rate climbed by 1.7%, reaching 503 incidents per 100,000 residents, up from 495 in 2022.
The study highlights that the aftermath of the pandemic continues to impact California, with the overall violent crime rate still 15.4% higher than in 2019. Notably, the homicide rate experienced a significant surge of 42.5% between 2019 and 2021. Although there has been an 18.9% decline since 2021, the rate remains 15.5% above pre-pandemic levels.
Aggravated assaults involving firearms saw a dramatic increase of 65.7% from 2019 to 2021. While this rate has decreased by 53.9% since 2021, it still stands 53.9% higher than in 2019. Robberies involving firearms are up by 11.5% in 2023 compared to 2019, though the proportion of such robberies has slightly declined.
On a positive note, property crimes have seen a marginal decrease, with a 0.8% drop in 2023 compared to the previous year, and are 0.3% below the 2019 levels. Larceny thefts make up the majority of property crimes, accounting for 63%, followed by auto thefts at 22%, and burglaries at 15%.
The survey also points out that 32 out of California’s 58 counties reported an increase in violent crime in 2023, with seven counties experiencing rises of 20% or more.
As California continues to navigate these challenges, the state’s largest population center remains focused on strategies to curb violent crimes and ensure the safety of its 40 million residents.
Reference(s):
Overall violent crime rate up last year in California: survey
cgtn.com
