Summary Arrests

Year End 12/31/2020

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.

  -59%

2,256 Arrests

All Offenses

  -59%

1,432 Arrests

Property Offenses

  -44%

28 Arrests

Drug Offenses

  -67%

267 Arrests

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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
All Property Offenses 7527 5,226 4,957 4,713 5,868 3,470 1,432 -59% 5,606 3,590 -36%
All Drug Offenses 774 642 476 221 112 50 28 -44% 528 63 -88%
All Other Offenses 19524 16,826 5,880 3,225 1,676 815 267 -67% 11,364 919 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 1157 1,846 1,035 933 988 1,132 529 -53% 1,243 883 -29%
All Offenses 28982 24,540 12,348 9,092 8,644 5,467 2,256 -59% 18,740 5,456 -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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Retail Theft 2324 2,077 1,901 1,532 2,313 2,351 1,287 -45% 1,958 1,984 1%
Theft 18 16 15 13 25 27 13 -52% 16 22 38%
Fraud/Theft of Services 4925 2,930 2,867 3,053 3,418 1,012 61 -94% 3,444 1,497 -57%
Vandalism 260 203 174 115 112 80 71 -11% 188 88 -53%
All Property Offenses 7527 5,226 4,957 4,713 5,868 3,470 1,432 -59% 5,606 3,590 -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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Alcohol Possession by Minor 277 169 134 105 45 34 27 -21% 171 35 -80%
Public Drunkenness 497 473 342 116 67 16 1 -94% 357 28 -92%
All Drug Offenses 774 642 476 221 112 50 28 -44% 528 63 -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: Year End Count of Summary Arrests by Offense Category

Offense Category 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Yr-Yr
Change 		’14-’17
Avg 		’18-’20
Avg 		’14-’17 Avg
Compared to
’18-’20 Avg
Trespass 2275 2,217 2,287 1,895 710 279 118 -58% 2,168 369 -83%
Disorderly Conduct 3560 2,815 1,410 726 517 314 97 -69% 2,128 309 -85%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 13689 11,794 2,183 604 449 222 52 -77% 7,068 241 -97%
All Other Offenses 19524 16,826 5,880 3,225 1,676 815 267 -67% 11,364 919 -92%