Violent crime in Santa Monica jumped almost 50 percent in 2017 over the previous year, reaching its highest level in two decades, according to police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics.Data released by the City showed a total of 705 violent crimes in Santa Monica, or 230 more incidents than the 475 reported in 2016 -- a 48 percent increase.
Behind the big jump in violent crimes was a rocketing number of aggravated assaults, the City's data showed. Those crimes increased 67 percent, from 244 incidents in 2016 to 407 reported occurrences last year.
Last year also marked the third year in a row of increases in violent crime, which also includes robbery (up 28 percent from 2016, or 241 incidents), rape (up from 40 in 2016 to 57 in 2017) and homicide (one incident in 2016 and two in 2017).
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As with law enforcement throughout California, Santa Monica police blame much the rise in crime on two statewide measures approved by voters over the past four years.
Proposition 47 in 2014 reduced "nonviolent and nonserious" crimes to misdemeanors as the state struggled with overcrowded prisons. Proposition 57, passed in 2016, expanded parole opportunities for some felons.
An analysis by the Lookout found that Santa Monica's most violent crimes were committed by repeat offenders ("Suspects in Santa Monica's Most Violent Crimes Were Repeat Offenders," March 13, 2018).
Prosecutors are backing a proposed initiative -- Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018 -- which would increase supervision of parolees, increase the role of the courts regarding parole violators and eliminate early release for such violent crimes as rape of an unconscious person and assault on a police officer.
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