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Compared on: Crime rose in California under Gov. Gavin Newsom (since January 2019)
THE CLAIM · OCT 10, 2026
“Steve Hilton slams rise of rampant crime under Calif Gov Newsom”
As reported by Sean Hannity (Hannity) · Read the post
THE RECORD
California, violent crime rate (per 100,000 people): 447.4 in 2018; peak 526.7 in 2023; 434.8 in 2025 (about flat, -2.8% end to end).
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Violent crime rate, California · Read
THE RECORD
California, property crime rate (per 100,000 people): 2,401.7 in 2018; 1,821.3 in 2025 (down 24.2%). Shown, not scored: Prop 47 in effect, so theft reporting can shift.
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Property crime rate, California · Read
THE RECORD
California, homicide rate (homicides per 100,000 people): 4.4 in 2018; peak 5.8 in 2022; 3.5 in 2025 (down 19.8% end to end).
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Homicide rate, California · Read
THE RECORD
California, violent crimes reported (offenses reported): 176,866 in 2018; peak 194,537 in 2023; 170,397 in 2025 (about flat, -3.7% end to end).
California Department of Justice (OpenJustice) · Violent crimes reported, California · Read
THE RECORD
California, property crimes reported (offenses reported): 940,998 in 2018; 705,925 in 2025 (down 25%). Shown, not scored: Prop 47 in effect, so theft reporting can shift.
California Department of Justice (OpenJustice) · Property crimes reported, California · Read
RECORD IS MIXED
- Violent crime
- rose then fell: 2018 to 2025, peak 2023: FBI 447.4 → 526.7 → 434.8 (-2.8%); CA DOJ 176,866 → 194,537 → 170,397 (-3.7%)
- Property crime
- down: 2018 to 2025: FBI 2,401.7 → 1,821.3 (-24.2%); CA DOJ 940,998 → 705,925 (-25%) · not scored: Prop 47 in effect, so theft reporting can shift
- Homicide
- rose then fell: 2018 to 2025, peak 2022: FBI 4.4 → 5.8 → 3.5 (-19.8%)
First step: Steve Hilton did say this (Fox News, May 15, 2023). The claim inside it: crime rose in California under Gov. Gavin Newsom (since January 2019). This card checks that against official data. The post (October 10, 2026) presents the claim as current, so it is checked against data published by then; the words found date from May 15, 2023. Some measures rose for part of the window and then fell back; each one's numbers are shown. Property crime is shown but not scored: California Proposition 47 and California Proposition 36 were in effect over the window. It checks the direction ("rise"), not the word "rampant". Prop 47 (2014) made theft and shoplifting of $950 or less a misdemeanor. It changed how those thefts are charged, not how police count the thefts reported to them; whether victims and stores report them can change. Prop 36 (2024) made some repeat thefts under $950 felonies again, partly reversing Prop 47. It changes charging, not how police count reported thefts; whether victims and stores report them can change. In 2021 the FBI stopped taking summary (SRS) reports and many large agencies were not yet reporting incident-level (NIBRS) data, so 2021 coverage fell sharply (California: about 21% of people covered). Months under 80% coverage are not used; NIBRS also counts every offense in an incident, not only the most serious.
