Safety

Crime Rate

Homicides Jump Up 17%

Crime impacts both real and perceived safety. It can also negatively affect investment in a community if a neighborhood is considered unsafe. This indicator tracks crime rate trends and juvenile arrests. The crime rate includes reported violent felonies (homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and property felonies (burglary, motor vehicle theft, and larceny-theft).1

Crime impacts both real and perceived safety.

How is San Bernardino County Doing?

TREND

The property crime rate decreased by 10% between 2018 and 2019 and the violent crime rate increased by 15% during the same one-year period. Because property crimes account for most crime, the overall crime rate declined by 6% between 2018 and 2019. During this same period, the number of homicide victims increased from 126 to 147.

OVERALL CRIME RATE IS ON THE DECLINE

Crime Rate in San Bernardino County, 2017-2021

Source: California Department of Justice, Open Justice Dataset, Crimes & Clearances (https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/); State of California, Department of Finance, E-2

NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IS INCREASING

Victims of Homicide in San Bernardino County, 2017-2021

Source: California Department of Justice, Open Justice Dataset, Crimes & Clearances (https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/); State of California, Department of Finance, E-2

The five-year violent crime trend is also up, increasing 19% between 2015 and 2019. Specifically, since 2015, the rate of rape increased 38%, while the homicide rate increased 31%, the aggravated assault rate increased 24%, and the robbery rate increased 4%.2

During the five-year period between 2015 and 2019, juvenile arrests in San Bernardino County dropped by 38%. In 2019, 57% of the juvenile arrests were for misdemeanor charges.3

Violent Crime Rate, by Type

San Bernardino County, 2014-2018
20142015201620172018Change from 2014
Rape*22.529.432.839.143.493%
Robbery115.3135.2135.8137.8142.824%
Aggravated Assault249.3297.6313.8289.4296.819%
Homicide5.25.16.05.95.812%

*In 2015, the Department of Justice reporting requirements changed and several sex crimes that were previously reported as Part II crimes were recategorized to Part I crime. This accounts for some of the increases in the rape rate.

JUVENILE ARRESTS CONTINUE TO DECLINE

Juvenile Arrests in San Bernardino County, 2010-2019

RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL

Black juveniles are arrested at a rate of 66.0 per 1,000 juveniles ages 12-17 years.3 This is a significantly higher rate than the countywide average of 18.5 per 1,000 juveniles and higher than any other race/ethnic group. The Equity Gap Score for juvenile arrests is 10.0 – the highest Equity Gap Score documented in this report. This score means that the group with the highest arrest rate (Black juveniles) is ten times higher than the group with the lowest arrest rate (Asian juveniles).

Equity Gap Score

10.0

BLACK JUVENILE ARREST RATES MUCH HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP

Juvenile Arrest Rate Per 1,000 by Race/Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2019

Sources: San Bernardino County Probation Department, Research Unit; California Department of Finance, Table P-3

GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL

The crime rate in San Bernardino County is one of the highest among neighboring counties compared, but slightly lower than the state.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CRIME RATE LOWER THAN L.A. COUNTY AND THE CALIFORNIA AVERAGE

Crime Rate, County Comparison, 2021

Sources: California Department of Justice, Open Justice Dataset, Crimes & Clearances (https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/); State of California, Department of Finance, E-2

San Bernardino County Probation Department Day Reporting and Reentry Services Centers

The San Bernardino County Probation Department operates three Day Reporting and Reentry Services Centers (DRRSC) that are regionally-based adult facilities. The centers are funded with a portion of the monies received from AB 109 and are conveniently located. DRRSCs provide access to co-located multi-agency partners: Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), Public Health, and Workforce Development Department. Each center has a dedicated Probation Homeless Services Coordinator, a clothing closet, and offers life skills and reentry support classes. Classes offered include, but are not limited to, anger management, employment, healthy life choices, parenting, cognitive journaling, food handler’s training, and computer skills training.

In the three year period between 2017/18 and 2019/20, more than 40,300 clients were seen at the Probation Department’s three DRRSCs. Of these clients:

  • 4,273 were referred to Workforce Development for employment readiness training or job placement assistance;
  • 4,467 were referred to TAD for assistance with accessing CalFresh or health care enrollment;
  • 6,853 were referred to DBH for assistance with behavioral health issues, dual diagnosis issues, and/or coordination
    of outpatient treatment services;
  • 989 unique clients were placed in housing by Probation Housing Coordinators; and
  • 1,005 were referred to Public Health for care coordination support, such as assistance with accessing prescriptions
    or a health care provider, and receiving health education services.

Note: The figure 40,300 represents the total number of clients seen at DRRSC. Not all clients received a referral for services, thus the bullets do not add up to 40,300.

Source: San Bernardino County Probation Department, Research Unit
1Only violent and property crimes (considered Part I crimes) are included in the crime rate for this indicator. Part II crimes (which include such crimes as embezzlement, forgery, disorderly conduct, and driving under the influence) are not included. By some estimates, Part II crimes account for about 60% of total crimes reported in San Bernardino County. 2In 2015, the Department of Justice reporting requirements changed and several sex crimes that were previously reported as Part II crimes were recategorized to Part I crime. 3The total count of juvenile arrests is inclusive of arrests made by various law enforcement agencies.