Case Length

Year End 12/31/2020

Definitions | Limitations

Case Length is a measure of the number of days between arrest and resolution in a case. It reflects the efficiency of a criminal justice system. Faster case resolution can be a deterrent to crime; it also allows victims and the accused to move on with their lives more quickly.

190 days

to Complete

Agg. Assault/Gun

Cases

522 days

to Complete

Homicide

Cases

48,609

Cases Currently Open

  12%

Time to Complete Poss. of Firearms Cases

vs. Pre-2018 Avg

All Offenses

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
All Violent Offenses 124 117 132 136 139 120 189 57% 127 149 17%
All Property Offenses 134 137 132 128 149 164 219 34% 133 177 33%
All Drug Offenses 181 186 184 173 186 194 260 34% 181 213 18%
All Firearms Possession 281 305 268 268 255 220 315 43% 280 263 -6%
All Other Offenses 95 99 102 101 143 146 226 55% 99 172 74%
Uncategorized Offenses 196 162 161 144 180 151 203 34% 166 178 7%
All Offenses 160 159 160 154 173 169 226 34% 158 189 20%

Violent

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Homicide 589 616 553 557 556 492 522 6% 579 523 -10%
Non-Fatal Shooting** · 66 300 422 375 350 431 23% 263 385 46%
Rape 308 373 528 535 397 423 407 -4% 436 409 -6%
Robbery/Gun 260 311 354 352 274 199 260 31% 319 244 -24%
Robbery/Other 128 131 132 116 132 112 199 78% 127 148 17%
Aggravated Assault/Gun 274 333 354 263 189 141 190 35% 306 173 -43%
Aggravated Assault/Other 114 111 114 117 115 112 191 71% 114 139 22%
Other Assaults 84 76 73 78 85 87 158 82% 78 110 41%
Sexual Assault and Other Sex Offenses 170 156 216 175 184 237 295 24% 179 239 34%
All Violent Offenses 124 117 132 136 139 120 189 57% 127 149 17%

Property

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Burglary/Residential 168 167 176 190 178 168 216 29% 175 187 7%
Burglary/Commercial 185 175 219 170 148 168 192 14% 187 169 -10%
Theft of Motor Vehicle Tag 159 117 228 115 157 205 121 -41% 155 161 4%
Theft from Person 118 149 101 102 136 114 272 139% 118 174 47%
Theft from Auto 124 142 118 135 144 139 230 65% 130 171 32%
Retail Theft 107 108 99 98 141 196 219 12% 103 185 80%
Theft 144 139 123 130 147 156 206 32% 134 170 27%
Auto Theft 169 175 210 153 145 152 209 38% 177 169 -5%
Fraud/Theft of Services 150 181 189 162 162 188 321 71% 170 224 32%
Embezzlement 196 169 164 154 178 214 277 29% 171 223 30%
All Property Offenses 134 137 132 128 149 164 219 34% 133 177 33%

Drugs

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Drug Possession 144 148 138 130 158 174 254 46% 140 195 39%
Drug Sales 207 223 206 185 199 193 267 38% 205 220 7%
DUI 237 208 226 213 214 223 258 16% 221 232 5%
All Drug Offenses 181 186 184 173 186 194 260 34% 181 213 18%

Firearms

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Illegal Firearms Possession 281 305 268 268 255 220 315 43% 280 263 -6%
All Firearms Possession 281 305 268 268 255 220 315 43% 280 263 -6%

Other

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Due to court closures, cases have remained open for much longer than normal. The increase in median days to disposition for cases in 2020 and 2021 is a result of this.

Yearly Median Days to Disposition by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Median Days to Disposition by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Prostitution/Sex Work 104 106 109 104 200 432 745 72% 106 459 333%
Patronizing Prostitutes 61 74 68 70 81 98 157 60% 68 112 65%
Threats of Violence 108 104 118 106 127 125 199 59% 109 150 38%
All Other Offenses 95 99 102 101 143 146 226 55% 99 172 74%