Summary Arrests

Year to Date Through 09/19/2021

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.

  -12%

1,543 Arrests YTD

All Offenses

  -42%

659 Arrests YTD

Property Offenses

  -93%

2 Arrests YTD

Drug Offenses

  -42%

126 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 4,040 3,609 3,238 4,169 2,709 1,141 659 -42% 3,629 2,170 -40%
All Drug Offenses 490 402 175 84 48 27 2 -93% 356 40 -89%
All Other Offenses 13,649 4,900 2,546 1,262 652 219 126 -42% 7,032 565 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 1,579 769 701 722 846 361 756 109% 1,016 671 -34%
All Offenses 19,758 9,680 6,660 6,237 4,255 1,748 1,543 -12% 12,033 3,446 -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 1,553 1,392 1,119 1,682 1,635 1,019 571 -44% 1,355 1,227 -9%
Theft 9 9 11 16 21 12 42 250% 10 23 130%
Fraud/Theft of Services 2,321 2,078 2,024 2,391 999 55 13 -76% 2,141 864 -60%
Vandalism 157 130 84 80 54 55 33 -40% 124 56 -55%
All Property Offenses 4,040 3,609 3,238 4,169 2,709 1,141 659 -42% 3,629 2,170 -40%

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 126 117 88 42 33 26 1 -96% 110 26 -76%
Public Drunkenness 364 285 87 42 15 1 1 0% 245 15 -94%
All Drug Offenses 490 402 175 84 48 27 2 -93% 356 40 -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 1,608 1,745 1,578 570 222 94 63 -33% 1,644 237 -86%
Disorderly Conduct 2,111 1,209 511 345 238 76 51 -33% 1,277 178 -86%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 9,930 1,946 457 347 192 49 12 -76% 4,111 150 -96%
All Other Offenses 13,649 4,900 2,546 1,262 652 219 126 -42% 7,032 565 -92%