Overview
- On Wednesday the California Department of Justice published 2025 reports showing every major statewide crime category declined and the state recorded its lowest homicide rate since reporting began in 1966.
- Reported homicides fell from 1,666 in 2024 to 1,374 in 2025, an 18.6% drop that put the homicide rate at about 3.5 per 100,000 residents.
- Overall reported hate crime events declined 3.4% from 2,023 to 1,955, while incidents motivated by racial or ethnic bias rose 6.2%, including a 30.3% jump in anti‑Hispanic or Latino events and an increase in anti‑citizenship incidents from 16 to 40.
- Hate crimes targeting transgender people rose from 73 to 90 events, and the DOJ said prosecutions referred to district and city attorneys increased (818 to 870) as it released new law enforcement bulletins, a rapid‑response protocol, prosecutorial guidance and community briefings.
- The DOJ cautioned that hate crime data are historically underreported and some agencies did not submit full 2025 data, so analysts say the declines likely reflect a mix of improved enforcement, higher clearance rates and real drops in violence while the targeted rise in specific bias incidents may shape future prosecutions and community outreach.