Public Data Dashboard
Summary Arrests - PhilaDAO Data Dashboard
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.
-2%
2,226 Arrests
All Offenses
-12%
1,448 Arrests
Property Offenses
800%
9 Arrests
Drug Offenses
12%
144 Arrests
Other Offenses
All Offenses
The offense categories have recently changed. Please see this data story and the definitions page for more information.
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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category
| Offense Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Yr-Yr Change |
’14-’17 Avg |
’18-’21 Avg |
’14-’17 Avg Compared to ’18-’21 Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Property Offenses | 10,250 | 7,841 | 7,443 | 6,797 | 6,868 | 3,978 | 1,647 | 1,448 | -12% | 8,083 | 3,485 | -57% |
| All Drug Offenses | 7 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 800% | 9 | 7 | -22% |
| All Other Offenses | 3,069 | 2,565 | 1,679 | 891 | 644 | 345 | 128 | 144 | 12% | 2,051 | 315 | -85% |
| Uncategorized Offenses | 15,848 | 14,491 | 3,676 | 1,624 | 1,249 | 1,190 | 501 | 625 | 25% | 8,910 | 891 | -90% |
| All Offenses | 29,174 | 24,899 | 12,801 | 9,335 | 8,763 | 5,530 | 2,277 | 2,226 | -2% | 19,052 | 4,699 | -75% |
| Areas in red coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the criminal legal system has operated completely differently than it normally does. The changes that can be observed on our dashboard include: 1) isolation, closed schools, and the loss of community programming has led to an increase in serious violent crime, 2) police have made fewer arrests overall (in particular for minor offenses), 3) court policies and other restrictions meant to keep people safe have also disrupted or delayed court hearings and led to a significant increase in open cases forced dismissals and withdrawals. See our report on the justice system during COVID-19 to learn more. |
Property
The offense categories have recently changed. Please see this data story and the definitions page for more information.
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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category
| Offense Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Yr-Yr Change |
’14-’17 Avg |
’18-’21 Avg |
’14-’17 Avg Compared to ’18-’21 Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Theft | 2,234 | 1,931 | 1,731 | 1,362 | 2,073 | 2,116 | 1,080 | 763 | -29% | 1,814 | 1,508 | -17% |
| Theft | 134 | 182 | 191 | 200 | 290 | 343 | 224 | 129 | -42% | 177 | 246 | 39% |
| Theft of Services | 4,761 | 2,786 | 2,569 | 2,892 | 3,425 | 901 | 33 | 128 | 288% | 3,252 | 1,122 | -65% |
| Trespass | 2,423 | 2,494 | 2,615 | 2,151 | 929 | 511 | 227 | 355 | 56% | 2,421 | 506 | -79% |
| Criminal Mischief | 295 | 234 | 211 | 151 | 138 | 102 | 81 | 71 | -12% | 223 | 98 | -56% |
| Other Property Crimes | 403 | 214 | 126 | 41 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0% | 196 | 6 | -97% |
| All Property Offenses | 10,250 | 7,841 | 7,443 | 6,797 | 6,868 | 3,978 | 1,647 | 1,448 | -12% | 8,083 | 3,485 | -57% |
| Areas in red coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the criminal legal system has operated completely differently than it normally does. The changes that can be observed on our dashboard include: 1) isolation, closed schools, and the loss of community programming has led to an increase in serious violent crime, 2) police have made fewer arrests overall (in particular for minor offenses), 3) court policies and other restrictions meant to keep people safe have also disrupted or delayed court hearings and led to a significant increase in open cases forced dismissals and withdrawals. See our report on the justice system during COVID-19 to learn more. |
Drugs
The offense categories have recently changed. Please see this data story and the definitions page for more information.
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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category
| Offense Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Yr-Yr Change |
’14-’17 Avg |
’18-’21 Avg |
’14-’17 Avg Compared to ’18-’21 Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 7 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 800% | 9 | 7 | -22% |
| All Drug Offenses | 7 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 800% | 9 | 7 | -22% |
| Areas in red coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the criminal legal system has operated completely differently than it normally does. The changes that can be observed on our dashboard include: 1) isolation, closed schools, and the loss of community programming has led to an increase in serious violent crime, 2) police have made fewer arrests overall (in particular for minor offenses), 3) court policies and other restrictions meant to keep people safe have also disrupted or delayed court hearings and led to a significant increase in open cases forced dismissals and withdrawals. See our report on the justice system during COVID-19 to learn more. |
Other
The offense categories have recently changed. Please see this data story and the definitions page for more information.
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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category
| Offense Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Yr-Yr Change |
’14-’17 Avg |
’18-’21 Avg |
’14-’17 Avg Compared to ’18-’21 Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disorderly Conduct | 2,325 | 1,916 | 1,221 | 668 | 523 | 290 | 100 | 117 | 17% | 1,532 | 258 | -83% |
| Alcohol Possession by Minor | 269 | 165 | 118 | 106 | 45 | 34 | 27 | 9 | -67% | 164 | 29 | -82% |
| Public Drunkenness | 475 | 484 | 340 | 117 | 76 | 21 | 1 | 18 | 1700% | 354 | 29 | -92% |
| All Other Offenses | 3,069 | 2,565 | 1,679 | 891 | 644 | 345 | 128 | 144 | 12% | 2,051 | 315 | -85% |
| Areas in red coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the criminal legal system has operated completely differently than it normally does. The changes that can be observed on our dashboard include: 1) isolation, closed schools, and the loss of community programming has led to an increase in serious violent crime, 2) police have made fewer arrests overall (in particular for minor offenses), 3) court policies and other restrictions meant to keep people safe have also disrupted or delayed court hearings and led to a significant increase in open cases forced dismissals and withdrawals. See our report on the justice system during COVID-19 to learn more. |