CRIME RATE IN 2024 REMAINS BELOW THE AVERAGE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS
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 Part I crime rate trends. Part I crimes include reported violent felonies (homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and property felonies (burglary, motor vehicle theft, and larceny-theft).[1] This indicator also tracks the adult arrest rate by race and ethnicity.
TREND
In San Bernardino County, the crime rate, calculated as the number of crimes per 100,000 population, increased by 12% between 2023 and 2024, but was 3% lower than in 2020. The rate of violent crimes, which make up approximately one-in-five of Part I crimes, increased 33% in the one-year period between 2023 and 2024, but remains lower than the violent crime rates posted from 2020 through 2022. Meanwhile, the property crime rate increased 7% in one year, but was similar to the property crime rate in 2020.
CRIME RISES IN 2024; REMAINS LOWER THAN IN 2020, 2021, AND 2022
Crimes per 100,000 Population in San Bernardino County, 2020-2024
Because year-to-year violent crime rates can fluctuate sharply, making it difficult to discern long-term patterns, calculating the average annual percent change over a multi-year period provides an approximation of the overall direction and magnitude of change. Using this method, from 2020 to 2024, the homicide rate fell an annual average of 6% while the robbery rate fell an annual average of 2%. Rape increased an annual average of 3% and, on average, there was no long-term change in aggravated assault.
OVER PAST FIVE YEARS, MOST TYPES OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE DOWN
Violent Crimes per 100,000 by Type in San Bernardino County, 2020-2024
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Average Annual Percent Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | -6% |
| Rape | 37.0 | 39.1 | 39.0 | 29.1 | 38.8 | 3% |
| Robbery | 113.3 | 99.6 | 110.8 | 89.3 | 100.0 | -2% |
| Aggravated Assault | 427.7 | 437.0 | 422.7 | 259.1 | 363.9 | 0.2% |
Despite the recent substantial fluctuation in the count of homicides, over the past 10 years (2015 to 2024), the increase in homicides observed from 2015 through 2022 contributes to a 10-year average increase of 3% per year.
AFTER 10-YEAR LOW IN 2023, HOMICIDES INCREASED IN 2024
Victims of Homicide in San Bernardino County, 2015-2024
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
The majority of arrests (53%) are of adults identifying as Latino and 23% of arrests are of adults identifying as White. Approximately one-in-five felony arrests are of adults identifying as Black (21%). In the accompanying chart, the distribution of San Bernardino County adult population by race and ethnicity is provided for context.
BLACK ADULTS COMPRISE 8% OF THE POPULATION AND 21% OF FELONY ARRESTS
Distribution of Felony Arrests and Adult Population by Race/Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2024
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
Owing to the increase in the San Bernardino County crime rate between 2023 and 2024, and the decline in the crime rate for the state overall and Southern California neighboring counties, San Bernardino County moved from the second lowest to the second highest crime rate among Southern California neighbors. In 2024, Los Angeles County and the state overall had crime rates greater than San Bernardino County’s.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CRIME RATE LOWER THAN L.A. AND THE CALIFORNIA AVERAGE
Crimes per 100,000 Adults, County Comparison, 2024
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 by Assembly Bill 109 (the California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011). DRRSCs provide access to co-located multi-agency County partners including Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), Public Health, and Workforce Development Department. Each center has a dedicated Probation Homeless Services Coordinator, Probation Housing Coordinator, and a clothing closet. Each center’s various re-entry support classes include life skills, anger management, employment, healthy life choices, parenting, cognitive journaling, food handler’s training, and computer skills training.
During fiscal year 2024/25, a total of 9,656 clients were seen at the Probation Department’s three DRRSCs. Of these clients:
- 1,779 were referred to Workforce Development for employment readiness training or job placement assistance;
- 952 were referred to TAD for assistance with accessing Cal-Fresh or health care enrollment;
- 2,602 were referred to DBH for assistance with behavioral health issues, dual diagnosis issues and/or coordination of outpatient treatment services;
- 347 unique clients were placed in housing by Probation Housing Coordinators; and
- 374 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.
[1] Only 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.