Los Angeles Area Homicides Hit a Historic Low in 2010
The homicide rate in the areas served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dropped to 0.61 deaths per 10,000 residents in 2010, the lowest it has been since 1965, according to data recently released by the Sheriff’s Department. The numbers are taken from the entire area served by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. In order to be included as a “homicide,” a crime had to involve the killing of one person by another, whether intentional or accidental.
In total, 181 homicides occurred in Los Angeles County in 2010, the lowest number in any one year since 1971. Overall, since 1960, the year with the fewest total homicides was 1972, with 146 deaths. The year that saw the most homicides was 1995, when 473 lives were lost.
Although a few years since 1960 have seen fewer total homicides than 2010, the rate of homicides – or the number of deaths divided by the total number of people in the area – was at a historic low in 2010. The rate of 0.61 deaths per 10,000 people in 2010 is similar to the rates of the early 1970s and is much lower than the rates in the mid-1990s, when rates of 1.5 homicides per 10,000 people were not uncommon.
Every type of homicide charge carries serious penalties if the charged person is convicted. If you have been charged with murder, manslaughter, or a similar crime in California, experienced Los Angeles homicide defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has the experience to provide an aggressive defense that protects your legal rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation, call the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at (310) 277-1707.