NEWS RELEASE | CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The California Department of Justice released the Crime in California 2012 report Friday.   It shows that crime changed incrementally in 2012 compared to the prior year.

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Based on data from local law enforcement agencies throughout California, the report notes that 2012 violent and property crime rates per 100,000 population remain at half the rate seen just 20 years ago. 

According to the FBI, many factors can affect the volume and type of crime occurring, including local economies, reporting practices and population density.

The Crime in California report is compiled by the California Department of Justice and pulls together data reported by police and sheriff’s departments in all of California’s 58 counties. 

Crime in California 2012 presents an overview of the criminal justice system in California. Current year statistics are presented for reported crimes, arrests, dispositions of adult felony arrests, adult probation, criminal justice personnel, citizens’ complaints against peace officers, domestic violence- related calls for assistance, and law enforcement officers killed or assaulted. In addition, statistics for preceding years provide a historical context.

Summary: The number of crimes and rate per 100,000 population remains at historic lows.

Crimes

z While the violent and property crime rates per 100,000 population increased slightly from 2011 to 2012, the 2012 rates remain at half the rate seen 20 years ago.

z The homicide rate remained at a rate 18 percent lower than the average homicide rate for the prior ten years.

z From 2011 to 2012, the forcible rape and aggravated assault rates remain 7.1 and 2.7 percent lower than their respective rates two years ago.

z The motor vehicle theft crime rate decreased 26 percent from 2007 to 2012, the largest decrease of all the violent and property crimes.

z In 2012, the arson rate per 100,000 population increased 4.2 percent.

z From 2011 to 2012, assaults against law enforcement officers decreased 4.0 percent, and the number of assaults in 2012 was the lowest in 5 years.

Arrests

z The 2012 total arrest rate of 4,165.1 per 100,000 population at risk is 2.9 percent lower than the 2011 total arrest rate of 4,287.4.

z In 2012, the adult total arrest rate slightly decreased (0.9 percent) while the juvenile total arrest rate decreased 18.1 percent.

z From 2011 to 2012, the total felony arrest rate increased 1.7 percent while the total misdemeanor arrest rate decreased 4.6 percent.

z In 2012, the total violent offense arrest rate decreased 3.0 percent. The property and drug offense arrest rates increased 2.6 and 4.3 percent, respectively.

z From 2007 to 2012, the property and drug offense arrest rates decreased 25.3 and 19.0 percent, respectively.

z From 2011 to 2012, the juvenile homicide arrest rate decreased 28.1 percent (from 3.2 to 2.3 per 100,000 population at risk). The adult homicide arrest rate increased 5.3 percent from 5.7 to 6.0 per 100,000 population at risk.

z In 2012, 43.6 percent of misdemeanor arrests were either alcohol- or drug-related.

z From 2011 to 2012, adult and juvenile misdemeanor arrest rates decreased with the exception of the adult drug offense rate, which increased 3.5 percent.

Dispositions

z In 2012, 68.5 percent of adult felony arrests resulted in conviction.

z Probation with jail continues to be the most frequent sentence given for adult felony arrest convictions.

Adult Probation

z From 2011 to 2012, there was a 1.1 percent decrease in the rate of adults placed on probation.

z From 2011 to 2012, there was a 4.2 percent decrease in the rate of adults removed from probation.

Criminal Justice Full-Time Personnel

z After declining for three years, the number of full-time criminal justice personnel increased 0.4 percent in 2012.

Note: Crime and arrest rates are calculated

using annual population estimates provided

by the Demographic Research Unit, California Department of Finance. Population estimates for 2000-2011 were revised based on the 2010 census. Crime and arrest rates for that period have been recalculated using revised intercensal population data and may not match previously published data.

The complete report is attached to the electronic version of this press release at:http://oag.ca.gov/news.

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