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Fact check: Did violent crime increase 10 percent in California under Attorney General Kamala Harris?
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and California Attorney General Kamala Harris
July 29, 2016
By Humberto Sanchez
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) is running against state Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) for the open California U.S. Senate seat currently held by Barbara Boxer, who is retiring at the end of the year.
Sanchez has criticized Harris over crime. Sanchez claimed in the Los Angeles Times that there have been “increases in crime rates during her [Harris’] tenure, including a 10 percent increase in violent crimes.”[1]
Is it true? Yes. According to a report released July 1, incidents of violent crime in California—which include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—rose 10 percent between 2014 and 2015.[2][3] By comparison, the true rate between 2015, when violent crime hit 426.4 per 100,000 residents, and 2014, when it was 393.3 per 100,000 residents, increased 8.4 percent.[2] The crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000, according to the California Office of the Attorney General.
Background
Harris was first elected to her attorney general post in 2010. She is currently serving her second term, after winning the 2014 general election.[4] The California attorney general, like all state constitutional officers, faces an absolute limit of two terms in office.[5] Harris has been endorsed by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.[6]
Sanchez was first elected to Congress in 1996. She is the second-highest ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. She also serves on the House Homeland Security Committee and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.[7]
Harris and Sanchez are both Democrats. They ended up as general election opponents after the state primary, which took place on June 7. California utilizes a top-two primary system, which requires that the top two finishers advance to the general election, even if they belong to the same party.
California crime statistics
Harris’ office released four annual crime reports on July 1, which provide law enforcement agencies and the public with statewide data on crime statistics in their communities.[2]
One report, titled “Crime in California, 2015,” provides an overview of the criminal justice system in California, as well as statistics for reported crimes, arrests, dispositions of adult felony arrests, adult probation, criminal justice personnel, citizens’ complaints against peace officers, domestic violence-related calls for assistance, and law enforcement officers killed or assaulted.[2]
The report showed that the number of violent crimes rose 10 percent when there were 151,425 incidents in 2014 compared with 2015 when incidents of violent crime rose to 166,588.[2]
Looking back over the entire five years Harris has been in office, the report shows that the number of violent crimes has fluctuated. Between 2014 and 2013, when there were 151,634 incidents, it fell by 0.1 percent; between 2013 and 2012, when there were 160,629 incidents, it fell by 5.6 percent; between 2012 and 2011, when there were 155,313 incidents, it rose 3.4 percent.[2]
The true rate has also varied, according to the report. Between 2015, when violent crime hit 426.4 per 100,000 residents, and 2014, when it was 393.3 per 100,000 residents, the violent crime rate increased 8.4 percent. Between 2014 and 2013, when violent crime reached 396.9 per 100,000 residents, it fell 0.9 percent. Between 2013 and 2012, when violent crime reached 424.7 per 100,000 residents, it fell 6.5 percent. And between 2012 and 2011, when violent crime reached 413.3 per 100,000 residents, it rose 2.8 percent.[2]
Office of the California Attorney General
The California Constitution provides the state’s attorney general with broad powers and responsibilities to ensure that the “state’s laws are uniformly and adequately enforced,” while “safeguarding the public from violent criminals," according to the attorney general’s website.[8][9]
According to the state constitution, the attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys as well as its law enforcement officers. The attorney general may personally prosecute any case that would normally be handled by a district or city attorney and represents the state in all cases before the California Supreme Court. Additionally, the attorney general is responsible for issuing formal legal advice to state agencies and officers.[10]
The attorney general also has a policymaking role in state law enforcement and "establishes and operates projects and programs to protect Californians from fraudulent, unfair, and illegal activities that victimize consumers or threaten public safety," according to the attorney general’s website.[9]
Conclusion
Rep. Loretta Sanchez is vying with California Attorney General Kamala Harris to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate.
Sanchez has criticized Harris over crime. Sanchez claimed in the Los Angeles Times that there have been “increases in crime rates during her [Harris’] tenure, including a 10 percent increase in violent crimes.”[1]
Is it true? Yes. According to a report released July 1, incidents of violent crime in California—which include homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault—rose 10 percent between 2014, when there were 151,425 incidents of violent crime, and 2015, when incidents of violent crime rose to 166,588.[2]
Launched in October 2015 and active through October 2018, Fact Check by Ballotpedia examined claims made by elected officials, political appointees, and political candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. We evaluated claims made by politicians of all backgrounds and affiliations, subjecting them to the same objective and neutral examination process. As of 2025, Ballotpedia staff periodically review these articles to revaluate and reaffirm our conclusions. Please email us with questions, comments, or concerns about these articles. To learn more about fact-checking, click here.
Sources and Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Los Angeles Times, "Loretta Sanchez unloads on President Obama for endorsing her rival for Senate," July 27, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, "Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Releases 2015 California Crime Reports," July 1, 2016
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Is rape a violent crime? AG Kamala Harris offers two definitions," July 16, 2016
- ↑ Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate, "Meet Kamala Harris," accessed July 28, 2016
- ↑ California Constitution, "Article 5, Section 11," accessed July 28
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Obama, Biden endorse Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate," July 27, 2016
- ↑ Loretta Sanchez for U.S. Senate, "Meet Loretta" access July 28, 2016
- ↑ State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, "About the California Department of Justice," accessed July 28, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, "About the Office of the Attorney General," accessed July 28, 2016
- ↑ California Constitution, "Article 5, Section 13," accessed July 28
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