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%

2,019 Cases

All Offenses

  -57%

1,316 Cases

Property Offenses

  -38%

28 Cases

Drug Offenses

  -67%

189 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 4,093 3,903 3,724 4,933 3,081 1,316 -57% 4,347 3,110 -28%
All Drug Offenses 584 497 382 187 87 45 28 -38% 412 53 -87%
All Other Offenses 13391 11,587 3,950 2,106 1,136 570 189 -67% 7,758 632 -92%
Uncategorized Offenses 9955 8,842 4,443 3,586 3,018 1,997 486 -76% 6,706 1,834 -73%
All Offenses 29598 25,019 12,678 9,603 9,174 5,693 2,019 -65% 19,224 5,629 -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 1,236 -47% 1,665 1,934 16%
Theft 13 13 11 12 24 27 12 -56% 12 21 75%
Fraud/Theft of Services 3543 2,197 2,118 2,311 2,579 667 24 -96% 2,542 1,090 -57%
Vandalism 173 141 131 65 91 59 44 -25% 128 65 -49%
All Property Offenses 5668 4,093 3,903 3,724 4,933 3,081 1,316 -57% 4,347 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 328 335 256 83 46 12 1 -92% 250 20 -92%
All Drug Offenses 584 497 382 187 87 45 28 -38% 412 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 1392 1,390 1,428 1,158 459 184 80 -57% 1,342 241 -82%
Disorderly Conduct 2414 1,852 998 536 395 248 74 -70% 1,450 239 -84%
Minor Violations (Open Container, Public Urination, Smoking Violation) 9585 8,345 1,524 412 282 138 35 -75% 4,966 152 -97%
All Other Offenses 13391 11,587 3,950 2,106 1,136 570 189 -67% 7,758 632 -92%