Data and Reports

Fatalities & Near Fatalities Reported to CDSS

Fatality and near fatality numbers presented in the charts below reflect the Statement of Findings and Information (SOC 826) forms submitted to CDSS by county child welfare agencies and have been reconciled with all California counties through quarterly reconciliations. Numbers may fluctuate each quarter as updates are provided to the state by California counties.

 
2008-2023 Child Fatality Incidents By Placement and Calendar Year
Placement Type
Calendar Year In Home Out-of-Home 3PHs Total Fatalities
CY 2008 114 6 * 120
CY 2009 119 5 * 124
CY 2010 128 4 * 132
CY 2011 120 2 * 122
CY 2012 138 1 2 141
CY 2013 101 3 31 135
CY 2014 101 3 24 128
CY 2015 107 6 40 153
CY 2016 110 5 36 151
CY 2017 114 0 32 146
CY 2018 114 4 36 154
CY 2019 119 3 33 155
CY 2020 120 1 38 159
CY 2021 135 6 35 176
CY 2022 127 3 19 149
CY 2023 62 3 3 68

  • Chart 1: CY 2012 is the first year CIOS unit started to receive SOC826s for Third Party Homicides of children 17 years of age and under, referred to in these charts as “3PHs”.
    • A third party homicide fatality is defined by CDSS as “situations wherein a child was a victim of homicide by a perpetrator other than a parent/guardian or a person acting as a caregiver and there was no contributory abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver.”
2008-2023 Child Near Fatality Incidents By Placement and Calendar Year
Placement Type
Calendar Year In Home Out-of-Home Total Near Fatalities
CY 2008 89 3 92
CY 2009 86 0 86
CY 2010 121 3 124
CY 2011 132 6 138
CY 2012 129 2 131
CY 2013 115 5 120
CY 2014 104 2 106
CY 2015 79 2 81
CY 2016 87 5 92
CY 2017 96 2 98
CY 2018 71 2 75
CY 2019 71 4 75
CY 2020 79 4 83
CY 2021 94 4 98
CY 2022 94 4 98
CY 2023 69 0 69

Calendar Year Grand Total of Fatalities and Near Fatalities
CY 2008 212
CY 2009 210
CY 2010 256
CY 2011 260
CY 2012 272
CY 2013 255
CY 2014 234
CY 2015 234
CY 2016 243
CY 2017 244
CY 2018 232
CY 2019 230
CY 2020 242
CY 2021 274
CY 2022 247
CY 2023 137

  • Chart 3: The numbers reflect all SOC826s officially accepted by the CDSS as of December 31, 2023. Data will be updated as needed per reporting requirements and through quarterly county reconciliations.

California Child Fatality and Near Fatality Annual Reports

Annual Progress and Service Reports

  • Analysis of child fatalities and near fatalities that occurred and were submitted to CDSS January 1-December 31, 2007, pages 208-215: Federal Fiscal Year 2008

Contact Us

For questions related to Child Fatalities 
and/or Near Fatalities, please contact:

California Department of Social Services 
744 P Street, MS 8-12-90 
Sacramento, CA 95814 
Phone: (916) 651-8100 
Email: CFSDCriticalIncidents@dss.ca.gov

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