California recorded its lowest homicide rate in state history in 2025, continuing a multi-year decline in violent crime statewide.
The homicide rate fell to 3.5 per 100,000 — the lowest recorded since statewide reporting began in 1966. Every major crime category also declined in 2025, with robbery down 19.9%, motor vehicle theft down 25.8%, property crime down 14.3%, and violent crime down 10.2%. Since 2024, all major categories tracked by the state have seen double-digit declines.
Since Governor Gavin Newsom took office, the state said, homicide has declined 20%, robbery 31%, property crime 24%, motor vehicle theft 19%, and violent crime 3%.
California's homicide rate of 3.5 per 100,000 is substantially lower than many other states. According to CDC data, Mississippi's rate was 19.7 per 100,000, Louisiana's 15.2, and Alabama's 13.3. Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, and Georgia all reported rates above 9 per 100,000.
The state said the results reflect investments in law enforcement partnerships, community violence intervention programs, and drug enforcement. California Highway Patrol crime suppression teams expanded in 2025 to San Diego, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, the Central Valley, the Sacramento Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Community violence intervention programs grew from $9 million to approximately $72 million annually.
California also pointed to gun violence prevention measures, including universal background checks, safe-storage requirements, and ghost gun restrictions. The state was the first to enact a Gun Violence Restraining Order law and now offers nine types of protection orders to temporarily remove firearms. The state's gun law strength is ranked first in the nation by the Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety. On drugs, the state said its Naloxone Distribution Project has reversed more than 460,000 opioid overdoses.
"Crime is down across the board. Homicides are at a historic low. We're doing the work, measuring the results and making California safer," Governor Newsom said.