In 2018, more than 6,500 persons died in California as a result of violence-related injuries. Violent deaths in California account for approximately 10% of all such deaths nationwide and contribute to nearly 18 deaths every day.¹ The California Violent Death Reporting System (Cal-VDRS), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the national system (NVDRS), links multiple data sources together to better understand the circumstances and details surrounding violent deaths. Data sources include vital statistics, coroner/medical examiner reports (e.g., autopsy, investigative, toxicology), and law enforcement reports. This multi-source surveillance system provides a far greater understanding of violence-related death than can be gained through any single system alone. In 2018, data were provided for 19 California counties, accounting for 54% of statewide violence-related deaths (n=3,663). The majority of violent deaths were suicides (64%), followed by homicides (31%), deaths of undetermined intent (3%), legal intervention/deaths involving those with legal authority (1%), and unintentional firearm deaths (<1%). Results for these deaths will be reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, method of injury, location of injury, and surrounding circumstances (e.g., mental health and substance abuse problems, intimate partner violence, gang violence, the presence of life stressors including problems with finances, job, school, relationships, physical health). The better understanding of violent deaths gained from Cal-VDRS can be used to inform decision makers, policy, and prevention planning with the ultimate goal of reducing and preventing violence-related injury and death.

¹ CDC WISQARS, data accessed 2/19/2020