Summary Arrests

Year to Date Through 06/13/2021

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.

  -34%

890 Arrests YTD

All Offenses

  -56%

402 Arrests YTD

Property Offenses

  -100%

0 Arrests YTD

Drug Offenses

  -54%

80 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 2,711 2,262 1,876 2,548 1,948 909 402 -56% 2,283 1,452 -36%
All Drug Offenses 340 321 129 54 42 27 0 -100% 263 31 -88%
All Other Offenses 8,599 3,480 1,588 827 435 175 80 -54% 4,556 379 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 1,156 499 455 415 514 246 408 66% 703 396 -44%
All Offenses 12,806 6,562 4,048 3,844 2,939 1,357 890 -34% 7,805 2,258 -71%

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 1,002 923 715 1,073 987 809 354 -56% 880 806 -8%
Theft 6 7 6 6 9 9 15 67% 6 10 67%
Fraud/Theft of Services 1,590 1,246 1,109 1,413 922 53 12 -77% 1,315 600 -54%
Vandalism 113 86 46 56 30 38 21 -45% 82 36 -56%
All Property Offenses 2,711 2,262 1,876 2,548 1,948 909 402 -56% 2,283 1,452 -36%

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 90 90 62 25 30 26 0 -100% 81 20 -75%
Public Drunkenness 250 231 67 29 12 1 0 -100% 183 10 -95%
All Drug Offenses 340 321 129 54 42 27 0 -100% 263 31 -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 962 979 993 377 135 74 43 -42% 978 157 -84%
Disorderly Conduct 1,389 1,004 341 240 170 58 30 -48% 911 124 -86%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 6,248 1,497 254 210 130 43 7 -84% 2,666 98 -96%
All Other Offenses 8,599 3,480 1,588 827 435 175 80 -54% 4,556 379 -92%