The adult arrest rate in the San Diego region increased in 2004 for the fourth consecutive year, according to the latest report from SANDAG’s Criminal Justice Research Division. Compared to other the four most populated counties in California, San Diego had the second highest adult and juvenile arrest rates in 2004.

In 2004, there were 45.2 adults arrested per 1,000 residents, a five percent increase from 2003 (43.0). In contrast, with one exception, the arrest rate for juveniles has declined each year since 1995 — however, the 2004 rate of 52.5 was only slightly lower than the preceding year (52.6).

Even though juveniles have historically had a higher arrest rate than adults, it is important to note that many more adults are actually arrested. In 2004, there were 101,715 adults and 18,282 juveniles arrested in San Diego County, with the majority of these at the misdemeanor level. In other words, there was an average of 279 adult and 50 juvenile arrests each day in the region by local law enforcement agencies.

While juveniles accounted for just 15 percent of the region’s total arrests in 2004, they represented 35 percent of all arrests for weapons-related offenses. In addition, youth comprised 26 percent of all arrests for property offenses.

There were 14,201 adults and 2,878 juveniles arrested for violent offenses in 2004 — a one percent increase and a two percent decrease, respectively, from 2003. The violent offense category includes four felony level offenses (homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and two misdemeanor offenses (manslaughter and assault/battery). The most notable changes over the past year were a 20 percent decrease in adult arrests for rape and a 12 percent drop for homicide offenses.

From 2003 to 2004, the number of arrests for property offenses increased 14 percent for adults and 10 percent for youth. Property offenses include burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft at the felony level, and misdemeanor burglary and petty theft.

In 2004, there were 11,563 adults arrested for a property offense. For adults, felony level larceny theft arrests increased to the greatest degree (20%) over a one-year period, followed by misdemeanor burglary and petty theft (16%). In comparison, the number of juveniles arrested for misdemeanor petty theft and burglary also increased (16%), but the number of felony arrests for larceny theft actually dropped by six percent.

The number of adult and juvenile arrests for alcohol and drug violations in 2004 equates to more than six alcohol and drug-related arrests per hour, per day. In total, 51,519 adults and 2,792 juveniles were arrested for this offense type – an increase of five percent for adults and a slight decrease of less than one percent for juveniles when compared to 2003 data. 

Since 2000, the number of adult and juvenile arrests for weapons-related offenses increased more than any other category (42% and 43%, respectively). There were 1,338 adult and 725 juvenile arrests for weapons violations in 2004. Compared to 2003, these numbers increased 12 percent for adults and 10 percent for juveniles.

The full report is available on the SANDAG Web site. 

Project Manager
Sandy Keaton
619-699-6933