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Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

Is Nevada’s violent crime rate higher than California?

Oona Milliken, The Nevada Independent
no

Nevada doesn’t calculate its crime rates but it does keep track of annual crimes. In 2024, Nevada had 13,097 incidents of violent crime, defined as “offenses which involve force or threat of force,” according to the Nevada State Police Records, Communications and Compliance Division. With a population of 3.2 million in 2024 according to the U.S. Census, Nevada’s violent crime rate for 2024 was 401 per 100,000 people. 

The California Department of Justice, which tracks the state’s  crime rates, reported a violent crime rate of 480 per 100,000 people in 2024. California defines violent crime as “offenses involving the use of physical force or the threat of force against a person,” according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

While Nevada has four offenses classified as violent crime — murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — California has 23, including “mayhem,” “lewd or lascivious act” and extortion.

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The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.

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