Adult arrest rates in the San Diego Region decreased by 14 percent between 1997 and 2001, according to SANDAG's latest annual report on arrests in the region.

According to the report, the adult arrest rate in 2001 was 42 per 1,000 adults, down from 48.7 arrests per 1,000 adults in 1997. About 50 percent of adult arrests were alcohol or drug related. Adult arrests accounted for 85 percent of all felony and misdemeanor arrests.

Juvenile arrest rates declined by 11 percent between 1997 and 2001. In 2001, the juvenile arrest rate was 62.4 per 1,000 youths compared to 70 per 1,000 youths in 1997.

Of the 109,116 total arrests in 2001, 66 percent were misdemeanors, and 30 percent were felonies. The remaining 4 percent of arrests were juvenile-specific "status" offenses such as truancy, curfew violations, and runaways.

The report presents arrest rates and numbers for 2001 in San Diego County compared to 2000 and 1997. Ten-year trends in arrests for the county can be found in the appendix.

"Arrest data are important, because they account for additional police activity and a considerable amount of time and funding by law enforcement agencies to fight crime in our communities," said Dr. Cynthia Burke, who tracks arrest data for SANDAG's Criminal Justice Research Division. "Reduced arrest rates mean that fewer individuals are entering the justice system and costing the use of law enforcement resources," she added.

SANDAG's Criminal Justice Research Division is a resource for local communities to assist in the planning process for crime-fighting and crime-reduction strategies. The agency publishes numerous comprehensive reports on many aspects of the justice system including domestic violence, juvenile arrests, drug abuse trends, resident opinion surveys, and regional crime statistics.

Project manager: Sandy Keaton
(619) 595-5633