This Month

SANDAG elects Board
officers for 2007

Tribal representation signals growing collaboration

The new number for
San Diego travelers soon
will be 5-1-1
New and improved Pomerado Bridge to open soon

Residents surveyed about infrastructure priorities
New traffic data
now available

Arrest rates in
San Diego decline

Register your carpool
with RideLink and win

SANDAG Board Actions available online

Arrest rates in San Diego decline

Adult and juvenile arrest rates in San Diego County declined during 2005, according to the latest report from the SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division.

However, compared to other large California counties, San Diego County had the second highest adult and juvenile arrest rates in 2005, surpassed by Los Angeles County for adults and Santa Clara County for juveniles.

In 2005, there were 43.5 adults arrested per 1,000 San Diego County residents, a four percent decrease from 2004, and the first decline since 2002. The arrest rate for juveniles has declined each year since 1999, and the trend continued in 2005 with a juvenile arrest rate of 49.4 per 1,000 residents. Although arrest rates traditionally have been higher for juveniles, the difference between the adult and juvenile statistics was significantly smaller in 2005.

SANDAG officials note, that while juveniles historically have had a higher arrest rate than adults, it is important to note that many more adults actually are arrested. In 2005, there were 98,874 adults and 17,128 juveniles arrested in San Diego County, with the majority of these arrests at the misdemeanor level. Local law enforcement made an average of 271 adult and 47 juvenile arrests each day in 2005.

Even though juveniles accounted for just 15 percent of the region’s total arrests in 2005, they represented 33 percent of all arrests for weapons-related offenses. In addition, youth comprised 25 percent of all arrests for property offenses.

There were 14,047 adults and 2,647 juveniles arrested for violent offenses in 2005. 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 change during the past year was a 12 percent decrease in juvenile felony-level violent offenses, compared to a three percent decline among adults.

In 2005, the number of arrests for property offenses decreased five percent for adults and ten percent for juveniles. Property offenses include burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft at the felony level, and misdemeanor burglary and petty theft.

There were 10,971 adults and 3,689 juveniles arrested for property offenses. However, the number of adults arrested for felony-level property crime (8,132) was 26 percent higher in 2005, compared to 2001 (6,434), due in part to the considerable increase in arrests for motor vehicle theft (98%). In comparison, there were fewer (-5%) juveniles arrested for felony-level property crime in 2005 (1,916), compared to 2001 (2,021), even though there was a
14 percent increase in arrests for motor vehicle theft.

The number of adults and juveniles arrested for alcohol and drug violations in 2005 equates to more than six alcohol and drug-related arrests per hour, per day. In total, 51,273 adults and 2,686 juveniles were arrested for this offense type — a slight decrease of less than one percent for adults and a four percent decrease for juveniles, when compared to 2004. Juveniles were less likely to be arrested for all felony-level alcohol and drug-related offenses.

Since 2001, the number of adult and juvenile arrests for weapons-related offenses has increased more than any other category (32% and 14%, respectively). There were 1,423 adult and 713 juvenile arrests for weapons violations in 2005.

Finally, 2,634 juveniles were arrested for status offenses in 2005, a five-year decline of 37 percent and a one-year decrease of three percent. Status offenses apply only to juveniles and include youth-specific offenses such as underage drinking, truancy, running away, and curfew violations. During the past five years, the number of arrests for truancy and curfew violations has decreased the most (45% and 41%, respectively), compared to other status offenses.

Project Manager:
Cynthia Burke, Director, Criminal Justice Research Division
cbu@sandag.org; (619) 699-1910