California saw an increase in violent crimes, with the homicide rate increasing by 3.7 percent between 2016 and 2015, a new report issued by the California Department of Justice revealed. A total of 1,930 homicides were reported in 2016, an increase over 1,861 reported in 2015. Over the past decade the homicide rate ranged from a high of 6.2 in 2007 to a low of 4.4 in 2014.