California Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
1,431,993
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
38.5
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
465,700
33% of total
Year-over-Year
-3.0%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
465,700
Long Gun
299,930
Permit Checks
282,209
In 2022, California recorded 1,431,993 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 38.5 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 33% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 21%. Background checks decreased 3.0% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,297,132 | — |
| 2019 | 1,240,632 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 1,601,054 | +29.1% |
| 2021 | 1,476,073 | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 1,431,993 | -3.0% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
California State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
95,962
2023
Per 100K Residents
258
imprisonment rate
Admissions
28,307
2023
Releases
32,058
2023
Male Prisoners
92,146
96% of total
Female Prisoners
3,816
4% of total
Private Prisons
0.0%
of total prison pop
California Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 5.7% of California's population but 27.6% of the prison population (4.8x overrepresented). Hispanic residents are 40.2% of the population vs. 46.0% of prisoners. White residents are 43.0% of the population but 20.0% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
California had a total prison population of 95,962 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 258 per 100,000 residents. There were 28,307 new admissions and 32,058 releases. 0.0% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
California County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 54 counties in California.
Total Jail Population
58,800
2024
Avg Jail Rate
313
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
711,828
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58,800 | 313 | 711,828 | N/A | 54 |
| 2023 | 59,355 | 321 | 721,438 | N/A | 56 |
| 2022 | 61,756 | 310 | 702,886 | 69% | 56 |
| 2021 | 58,658 | 299 | 670,659 | 73% | 56 |
| 2020 | 61,784 | 306 | 743,911 | 73% | 56 |
| 2019 | 73,805 | 373 | 904,552 | 72% | 57 |
| 2018 | 74,618 | 373 | 984,796 | 64% | 57 |
| 2017 | 75,559 | 380 | 995,740 | 64% | 57 |
| 2016 | 75,569 | 367 | 1,002,674 | 63% | 57 |
| 2015 | 74,585 | 372 | 1,010,061 | 61% | 57 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, California's 54 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 58,800 with an average county jail rate of 313 per 100,000 residents. A total of 711,828 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
California Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 58 counties in California. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
22,193
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
10,359
47% of total
Suicide Deaths
11,184
50% of total
Rate per 100K
8.1
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
118
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, California's 58 counties reported a combined 22,193 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 8.1 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 10,359 (47%) were homicides and 11,184 (50%) were suicides. There were 118 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.