Arrest Trends

Every year, police across the United States arrest — or issue summonses and citations to — a staggering number of people: enforcement decisions that act as a gateway into the criminal legal system. Enforcement of all forms, but especially arrests, has harmful effects on individual people, families, and communities — particularly communities of color.

The nation’s justice and safety systems were not designed to serve all people equally. There are stark racial disparities in arrests, and police enforcement disproportionately harms marginalized groups. In response, communities are demanding that public safety be reimagined to ensure justice and equity for all.

This interactive tool enables users to better understand arrests and the current footprint of policing in the United States.

Explore the trends

Click through to better understand enforcement trends and practices by your local law enforcement department.

Arrests: How many arrests are made annually, and for what?
Demographics: How do arrest trends vary across demographic groups?
Victimizations: How common are victimizations and to whom are they reported?
Clearance Rates: How successful are the police at solving crimes?
Data Reported: What gaps exist in policing data and why?
Want to read more about the data? Head to the data sources and methodology section here.

Using the Arrest Trends Tool

Access to data intended to generate dialogue about the role of policing

Easy to navigate

Promote and surface opportunities for alternative responses that help address the root causes of crime and strengthen police-community relations

Brings together disparately located and difficult to analyze data on various law-enforcement-related indicators

Our Mission

To end the overcriminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty.

Vera Institute of Justice

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and activists working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity.