The number of crimes in Santa Barbara County was lower in 2022 compared to the past two years, according to the recent crime statistics released by the Sheriff’s Office last week. Major crime is down 12 percent compared to the previous year, while lesser criminal offenses dropped by 10 percent overall.
“The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to see these overall decreases in the number of reported crimes throughout our county,” said Sheriff Bill Brown, who was reelected to his fifth term last year. “This is a trend that we welcome and believe is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement and custody professionals, as well as our partnerships with the people we serve and protect. There is still work to be done to ensure that Santa Barbara County remains a safe place to live and work, but we are encouraged by the progress that has been made."
In the report, which is available in full online on the Sheriff's Office website , the number of crimes are broken down by category and compared to the county’s statistics from the past five years.