SD Arrest Rates Drop, But Violent Weapons Arrests Increase

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego's arrest rate dropped to a seven-year low in 2021, but violent and weapon arrests increased, according to a report released Wednesday by the San Diego Association of Governments.

The report, "Arrests 2021: Law Enforcement Response to Crime in the San Diego Region," found that the arrest rate dropped 8% for juveniles and 5% for adults in 2021.

In 2021, an average of 155 adults and six juveniles were arrested per day, down from 272 and 12, respectively, in 2017. However, the data showed an increase in violent arrests -- 3% for adults and 4% for juveniles -- and weapons arrests -- 17% for adults and 98% for juveniles.

"This data is an important measure for the community to understand law enforcement's response to crime," said Cynthia Burke, SANDAG senior director of data science. "Over the years compared in this report, we have seen a continued decline in the felonies committed overall, as well as fewer arrests in juveniles. However, weapon offenses have seen an uptick, which is likely related to the growing issue of untraceable firearms, or ghost guns, in our communities."

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed an ordinance in September 2021 authored by City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert officially banning firearms without individual serial numbers -- so-called "ghost guns" -- in the city in an attempt to address increasing gun violence. In January 2022, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors followed suit, approving an ordinance requiring safe firearm storage and prohibiting the distribution or creation of untraceable "ghost guns" in the county.

SANDAG found that while arrest rates in 2021 largely decreased for all ethnic groups, racial differences remained. Black and Hispanic individuals were overrepresented in all arrest categories in 2021. White individuals and those who represented other races/ethnicities were underrepresented.

Other notable report findings include:

• Adult and juvenile arrests for property and drug crime decreased in 2021, compared to 2020;
• Around two in five arrests were considered felonies in 2021; and
• Adult arrests for driving under the influence increased at both the felony and misdemeanor level in 2021 -- up 34% and 12%, respectively, from 2020.

City News Service