The new crime numbers show that California, which has the most people in the country, is also one of the most dangerous places in the country. The Golden State has the third-highest rate of serious crime in the country and the second-highest rate of property crime as of 2020. In this piece, we look at the reasons behind California’s high crime numbers and some possible ways to make the state safer for everyone.
Crimes of Violence in California
Violent crimes include murder, killing without negligence, rape, robbery, and serious assault. There were 174,026 serious crimes reported in California in 2020, which is 442 crimes per 100,000 people. This rate is higher than the national average of 387.4 per 100,000 people, and only Alaska (837.8) and New Mexico (778.3) have higher rates.
When broken down by type of violent crime, California had the highest rate of robbery (101.5 per 100,000 people), then aggravated attack (279.6), rape (36.7), and murder (6.5). Based on these numbers, all types of violent crime went up in California in 2020, except for robbery, which went down by 9.4%. Murder rates rose by 31.1% from 2019 to 2020, which was the most noticeable increase.
California’s high serious crime rate could be caused by several things, including
Population density and urbanization: Most of California’s 40 million residents live in cities with lots of people. Crime rates are higher in these areas because of things like poverty, inequality, social chaos, and gang activity.
Conditions of the economy and poverty: The state has a high cost of living and a big difference in income between the rich and the poor. The poverty rate in California was 11.8% in 2020, which was higher than the national rate of 10.4%. Poor people may turn to illegal activities to make ends meet or deal with stress, which can lead to higher crime rates.
Cultural factors and gang violence: The many racial and ethnic groups that live in California can cause cultural clashes and tensions in some areas. The state has also a long history of gang violence, especially in places like Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco, where gangs are involved in crimes like murder, drug dealing, and extortion.
Crimes Against Property in California
Burglary, theft, and car theft are all types of property crimes. California had a total of 921,098 property crimes in 2020, which is about 2,314 crimes per 100,000 people. This rate is higher than the national average of 2,109.9 per 100,000 people. Only New Mexico (3,055) has a higher rate among all 50 states.
The rate of a larceny theft in California was the highest (1,398 per 100,000 residents), followed by motor car theft (457.1 per 100,000 residents) and burglary (346.2 per 100,000 residents). California saw a rise in all types of property crimes compared to 2019, except for theft, which went down by 5.3%. The most noticeable rise was in auto theft, which went up by 25% from 2019 to 2020.
California’s high rate of property crime could be caused by some things, including
Traffic flow and road network: The state has a lot of roads, which, along with the large number of cars, makes it easier and more appealing for people to steal cars. California had more than 28 million registered cars in 2020, more than any other state.
Conditions in the economy and poverty: As we’ve already said, the high cost of living and unequal incomes can make people feel like they don’t have enough and make them angry, which can lead some people to steal or damage property.
Law enforcement tools and policies: Compared to other states, California has fewer police officers per person. The state had 217 police officers for every 100,000 people in 2020, which was less than the national average of 238. Some people have also said that California’s criminal justice policies, like Proposition 47, have been too easy on property crimes because they turn some minor murders into misdemeanors.
Conclusion
California has the highest crime rate of any state, even though it has the most people. It had the third most serious crimes and the second most property crimes in the country in 2020. It is clear that aggressive crimes, especially killings, have become more common. High population density, economic inequality, culture tensions, and gang action are all things that could be factors. The number of property crimes, especially car thefts, also went up. To solve these problems, we need complete plans that include ways to boost the economy, help the community, and make sure the law is followed.