Summary Arrests

Year to Date Through 10/18/2021

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.

  -10%

1,732 Arrests YTD

All Offenses

  -41%

730 Arrests YTD

Property Offenses

  -86%

4 Arrests YTD

Drug Offenses

  -41%

140 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 4,364 4,059 3,674 4,628 2,921 1,231 730 -41% 4,032 2,378 -41%
All Drug Offenses 525 422 191 93 48 28 4 -86% 379 43 -89%
All Other Offenses 14,596 5,188 2,757 1,392 707 237 140 -41% 7,514 619 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 1,645 851 764 803 926 425 858 102% 1,087 753 -31%
All Offenses 21,130 10,520 7,386 6,916 4,602 1,921 1,732 -10% 13,012 3,793 -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 1,686 1,547 1,242 1,834 1,833 1,104 635 -42% 1,492 1,352 -9%
Theft 12 10 12 19 22 12 45 275% 11 24 118%
Fraud/Theft of Services 2,502 2,360 2,331 2,680 1,000 57 14 -75% 2,398 938 -61%
Vandalism 164 142 89 95 66 58 36 -38% 132 64 -52%
All Property Offenses 4,364 4,059 3,674 4,628 2,921 1,231 730 -41% 4,032 2,378 -41%

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 134 121 96 42 33 27 2 -93% 117 26 -78%
Public Drunkenness 391 301 95 51 15 1 2 100% 262 17 -94%
All Drug Offenses 525 422 191 93 48 28 4 -86% 379 43 -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 1,799 1,895 1,648 612 243 102 71 -30% 1,781 257 -86%
Disorderly Conduct 2,309 1,268 584 400 259 84 57 -32% 1,387 200 -86%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 10,488 2,025 525 380 205 51 12 -76% 4,346 162 -96%
All Other Offenses 14,596 5,188 2,757 1,392 707 237 140 -41% 7,514 619 -92%