Attorney General Lockyer Releases Advance Look at Statewide and County Crime Statistics for 2005

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today released statewide crime statistics for 2005 that show the overall violent crime rate fell 5.1 percent compared to 2004, while the property crime rate increased 0.3 percent.

“The violent crime rate decreased for the 13th consecutive year in our state, despite a steadily increasing population and wavering economy,” said Lockyer. “That’s a tribute to all our police officers on the front lines, and to local law enforcement agencies working together with communities and schools to strengthen public safety. Those partnerships, along with the dedication of police officers, will keep violent crime on the decline.”

“Crime in California, 2005: Advance Release,” published by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), provides information about crime rates, arrests, and adult felony arrest dispositions. The crime rate is defined as the number of crimes reported to law enforcement agencies per 100,000 residents.

The report shows the overall rate for measured violent crimes declined 5.1 percent from 2004 to 2005. The homicide rate increased by 4.6 percent, forcible rape decreased by 3.4 percent, robbery increased by 1.8 percent and aggravated assault decreased by 8.7 percent, according to the report.

The report shows the overall property crime rate increased slightly in 2005, by 0.3 percent over the 2004 level. The rates for specific property crimes in 2005 compared to 2004, include: burglary, 0.8 percent increase; motor vehicle theft, 0.9 percent increase; larceny-theft exceeding $400, one percent decrease; and larceny theft $400 or less, 8.5 percent decrease. The report also shows a four percent decrease in the arson rate.

The “Advance Release” also puts 2005 crime rates in historical context. The violent crime rate last year was 53.6 percent below the peak reached in 1992. Additionally, the property crime rate in 2005 was 41.4 percent below the peak rate in 1989.

A juvenile justice section was added to the report this year and includes data on probation dispositions, juvenile court dispositions and wardship placement from 2002 to 2005. According to the report, there were 218,779 juveniles arrested in 2005. Of the arrests, 89 percent of the cases were referred to Probation Departments where the cases were processed. Of those processed, petitions to adjudicate the case in juvenile court were filed in 50.8 percent of cases. The report also shows juveniles committed to the California Youth Authority decreased from 0.7 percent in 2002 to 0.3 percent in 2005.

The “Advance Release” report contains summarized crime data, reported by law enforcement agencies, on both a statewide and countywide level. The more extensive, detailed statewide report, “Crime in California, 2005,” and “Juvenile Justice in California, 2005,” will be published later this year.

“Crime in California, 2005: Advance Release” is available on the Attorney General’s website at http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/publications/advrelease/ad/ad05/ad05.pdf .