U.S. Arrests Decrease 25% Since COVID-19 Pandemic Began

Annual arrests in the U.S. have decreased by 25% since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 7.5 million arrests in 2024 compared to 10 million in 2019, according to a Council on Criminal Justice analysis. While male arrests have declined significantly, the share of female arrests has increased, reflecting a drop in male arrest rates rather than a surge in female arrests. Juvenile and drug offense arrests have also fallen, with drug offense rates down 50% since 2019. The report indicates that law enforcement is prioritizing more effective approaches over low-level drug arrests due to judicial frustrations.

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