KQED's The California Report Still Unclear What's Behind California's Declining Crime Rate
Jan 29, 2026
Magnus Lofstrom, policy director and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California who studies criminal justice and crime trends, breaks down California’s overall drop in crimes, especially homicides. He discusses data limits and possible drivers like pandemic-era effects, policing shifts, and technology. He also contrasts statewide declines with local variations that shape perceptions of safety.
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Proposal To Tax Detention Contracts
- AB 1633 would tax revenue from for-profit immigration detention contracts by 50% to fund immigrant services.
- Proponents argue the tax recoups state costs from private detention harms.
Denied Entry Raises Transparency Concerns
- Congressman Raul Ruiz was denied entry to the Adelanto Processing Center despite following DHS protocol.
- He said this was the second time he'd been denied entry, raising concerns about transparency in detention facilities.
Pandemic Surge Reversed
- California's recent crime decreases largely reverse a pandemic-era surge, not a new long-term drop.
- Homicide and property crime rates have returned to pre-pandemic lows in many places.