Despite law enforcement efforts to reduce the homicide rate, the Bay Area's murder rates have risen once again. The homicide rate has been at an all-time low since 2001. In 2015, the homicide rate increased by almost 10 percent, proving that more work needs to be done by law enforcement and community leaders.

In 2014 the Bay Area's 15 largest cities had a recorded 222 killings, while in 2015 there was a jump to 243. With this being said, violent crime rates have still remained lower than ever.  San Francisco had 52 killings, up from 45 the year before but far from the 100 in 2007. Oakland had 83 murders, not much higher than the 80 recorded in 2014 and much less than the high of 145 in 2006. Oakland and Richmond had the highest per capita murder rate in the Bay Area.

The homicide rates do not include officer-involving killings or those deemed to be self-defense. The police have said not to read too much into a one-year increase, especially given the longer term-gains.  Robert Weisberg, a criminal justice expert at Stanford Law School said that the numbers appear to reflect national trends but criminal behavior responds to many factors and is a mystery that is yet to be solved.

There is no clear pattern to San Francisco's increase in homicides, says Officer Albie Esparza. “Anybody that is killed in our streets is one homicide too many. These are numbers that no city or police department wants to see.”

For more please visit The San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/By-the-numbers-Homicides-up-in-Bay-Area-s-6746724.php