Summary Arrests

Year to Date Through 08/02/2021

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.

  -19%

1,230 Arrests YTD

All Offenses

  -46%

546 Arrests YTD

Property Offenses

  -96%

1 Arrests YTD

Drug Offenses

  -46%

104 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 3,453 2,977 2,583 3,401 2,328 1,010 546 -46% 3,004 1,821 -39%
All Drug Offenses 416 364 143 69 46 27 1 -96% 308 36 -88%
All Other Offenses 11,420 4,162 2,206 1,045 539 193 104 -46% 5,929 470 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 1,443 648 581 559 711 290 579 100% 891 535 -40%
All Offenses 16,732 8,151 5,513 5,074 3,624 1,520 1,230 -19% 10,132 2,862 -72%

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 1,289 1,169 935 1,387 1,330 902 476 -47% 1,131 1,024 -9%
Theft 7 9 8 7 13 9 30 233% 8 15 88%
Fraud/Theft of Services 2,019 1,686 1,572 1,944 943 54 13 -76% 1,759 738 -58%
Vandalism 138 113 68 63 42 45 27 -40% 106 44 -58%
All Property Offenses 3,453 2,977 2,583 3,401 2,328 1,010 546 -46% 3,004 1,821 -39%

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 105 104 65 33 31 26 1 -96% 91 23 -75%
Public Drunkenness 311 260 78 36 15 1 0 -100% 216 13 -94%
All Drug Offenses 416 364 143 69 46 27 1 -96% 308 36 -88%

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 1,322 1,294 1,440 472 162 83 54 -35% 1,352 193 -86%
Disorderly Conduct 1,745 1,127 423 296 207 67 40 -40% 1,098 152 -86%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 8,353 1,741 343 277 170 43 10 -77% 3,479 125 -96%
All Other Offenses 11,420 4,162 2,206 1,045 539 193 104 -46% 5,929 470 -92%