Summary Offense Charges

Year End 12/31/2020

Definitions | Limitations

Summary Offenses may be charged directly by the police or by the DAO’s Charging Unit.

  -65%

2,017 Cases

All Offenses

  -57%

1,315 Cases

Property Offenses

  -38%

28 Cases

Drug Offenses

  -67%

190 Cases

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 Cases Opened by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Summary Cases Opened 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 5668 4,094 3,909 3,724 4,934 3,081 1,315 -57% 4,349 3,110 -28%
All Drug Offenses 585 497 382 187 87 45 28 -38% 413 53 -87%
All Other Offenses 13415 11,595 3,956 2,110 1,138 573 190 -67% 7,769 634 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 9930 8,833 4,431 3,582 3,015 1,994 484 -76% 6,694 1,831 -73%
All Offenses 29598 25,019 12,678 9,603 9,174 5,693 2,017 -65% 19,224 5,628 -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 Cases Opened by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Summary Cases Opened 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 1939 1,742 1,643 1,336 2,239 2,328 1,235 -47% 1,665 1,934 16%
Theft 13 13 11 12 24 27 12 -56% 12 21 75%
Fraud/Theft of Services 3543 2,198 2,124 2,311 2,580 667 24 -96% 2,544 1,090 -57%
Vandalism 173 141 131 65 91 59 44 -25% 128 65 -49%
All Property Offenses 5668 4,094 3,909 3,724 4,934 3,081 1,315 -57% 4,349 3,110 -28%

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 Cases Opened by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Summary Cases Opened 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 256 162 126 104 41 33 27 -18% 162 34 -79%
Public Drunkenness 329 335 256 83 46 12 1 -92% 251 20 -92%
All Drug Offenses 585 497 382 187 87 45 28 -38% 413 53 -87%

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 Cases Opened by Police District

Data: Year End Count of Summary Cases Opened 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 1403 1,392 1,429 1,158 459 187 81 -57% 1,346 242 -82%
Disorderly Conduct 2414 1,852 1,000 536 395 248 74 -70% 1,450 239 -84%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 9598 8,351 1,527 416 284 138 35 -75% 4,973 152 -97%
All Other Offenses 13415 11,595 3,956 2,110 1,138 573 190 -67% 7,769 634 -92%