Summary Arrests

Year to Date Through 04/12/2021

Definitions | Limitations

The data below show Philadelphia totals for people arrested by local and state law enforcement agencies for ‘Summary’ offenses. Summary offenses are the lowest level of criminal offense in Pennslyvania, often refered to as ‘non-traffic citations.’ Unlike Misdemeanors and Felonies, the police in Philadelphia can arrest and charge a person for a summary offense without the intervention of the District Attorney’s Office.

  -44%

587 Arrests YTD

All Offenses

  -59%

279 Arrests YTD

Property Offenses

  -100%

0 Arrests YTD

Drug Offenses

  -68%

41 Arrests YTD

Other Offenses

All Offenses

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Among other changes, overall arrests and cases charged have been lower than prior years and those arrests that have happened tend to be for more serious offenses. Because of this, statistics about arrests, cases charged, and bail should be interpreted with caution.

Yearly Summary Arrests by Police District

Data: YTD Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD Yr-Yr
Change 		’15-’17
Avg 		’18-’21
Avg 		’15-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’21 Avg
All Property Offenses 1,731 1,434 1,151 1,507 1,378 687 279 -59% 1,439 963 -33%
All Drug Offenses 211 210 80 36 15 25 0 -100% 167 19 -89%
All Other Offenses 4,673 2,037 861 568 292 128 41 -68% 2,524 257 -90%
Uncategorized Offenses 599 281 281 256 325 214 267 25% 387 266 -31%
All Offenses 7,214 3,962 2,373 2,367 2,010 1,054 587 -44% 4,516 1,504 -67%

Property

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Among other changes, overall arrests and cases charged have been lower than prior years and those arrests that have happened tend to be for more serious offenses. Because of this, statistics about arrests, cases charged, and bail should be interpreted with caution.

Yearly Summary Arrests by Police District

Data: YTD Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD Yr-Yr
Change 		’15-’17
Avg 		’18-’21
Avg 		’15-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’21 Avg
Retail Theft 626 549 434 633 577 607 256 -58% 536 518 -3%
Theft 4 5 5 2 7 5 3 -40% 5 4 -20%
Fraud/Theft of Services 1,034 820 689 837 773 53 7 -87% 848 418 -51%
Vandalism 67 60 23 35 21 22 13 -41% 50 23 -54%
All Property Offenses 1,731 1,434 1,151 1,507 1,378 687 279 -59% 1,439 963 -33%

Drugs

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Among other changes, overall arrests and cases charged have been lower than prior years and those arrests that have happened tend to be for more serious offenses. Because of this, statistics about arrests, cases charged, and bail should be interpreted with caution.

Yearly Summary Arrests by Police District

Data: YTD Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD Yr-Yr
Change 		’15-’17
Avg 		’18-’21
Avg 		’15-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’21 Avg
Alcohol Possession by Minor 56 46 35 13 6 24 0 -100% 46 11 -76%
Public Drunkenness 155 164 45 23 9 1 0 -100% 121 8 -93%
All Drug Offenses 211 210 80 36 15 25 0 -100% 167 19 -89%

Other

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the criminal legal system. Among other changes, overall arrests and cases charged have been lower than prior years and those arrests that have happened tend to be for more serious offenses. Because of this, statistics about arrests, cases charged, and bail should be interpreted with caution.

Yearly Summary Arrests by Police District

Data: YTD Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2015 YTD 2016 YTD 2017 YTD 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2020 YTD 2021 YTD Yr-Yr
Change 		’15-’17
Avg 		’18-’21
Avg 		’15-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’21 Avg
Trespass 396 433 494 280 103 54 27 -50% 441 116 -74%
Disorderly Conduct 799 628 225 170 115 49 11 -78% 551 86 -84%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 3,478 976 142 118 74 25 3 -88% 1,532 55 -96%
All Other Offenses 4,673 2,037 861 568 292 128 41 -68% 2,524 257 -90%