While Mayor de Blasio has achieved success, faced opposition and registered failures and on many issues during his first term, none played so large a role in his becoming mayor—or posed greater political risks through his tenure so far—as criminal justice. Read our article about his criminal justice record here, and see our timeline of events here.
The data below is compiled by City Limits from data provided by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. The 2017 data is through August so to make it comparable, we have provided six-month totals for March through August for each year.
Arrests Over Six-Month Period Between March and August | Change | |||||||
Top Arrest Charge | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2013-2017 | 2016-2017 | |
PL 120.00 ASSAULT-3RD | 15,496 | 16,674 | 15,279 | 14,770 | 13,515 | -12.78% | -8.50% | |
PL 155.25 PETIT LARCENY | 12,663 | 13,146 | 12,675 | 11,390 | 10,598 | -16.31% | -6.95% | |
PL 165.15 THEFT OF SERVICES | 17,027 | 15,710 | 14,826 | 12,971 | 9,531 | -44.02% | -26.52% | |
PL 221.10 CRIM POSS MARIJUANA-5TH | 14,847 | 15,462 | 8,994 | 9,904 | 9,290 | -37.43% | -6.20% | |
PL 220.03 CRIM POSS CONTR SUBST-7TH | 12,026 | 12,758 | 10,504 | 8,398 | 7,651 | -36.38% | -8.89% | |
VTL 1192 DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED | 4,647 | 4,545 | 3,373 | 3,326 | 3,038 | -34.62% | -8.66% | |
PL 265.01 CRIM POSSESSION WEAPON-4TH | 4,195 | 4,267 | 3,811 | 3,386 | 2,593 | -38.19% | -23.42% | |
PL 145.00 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF-4TH | 2,733 | 3,080 | 2,862 | 2,803 | 2,569 | -6.00% | -8.35% | |
PL 140.10 CRIMINAL TRESPASS-3RD | 3,835 | 4,748 | 3,640 | 3,009 | 2,438 | -36.43% | -18.98% | |
PL 240.30 AGGRAVATED HARRASSMENT-2ND | 2,846 | 1,492 | 1,849 | 2,229 | 2,267 | -20.34% | 1.70% | |
PL 120.14 MENACING-2ND | 2,007 | 2,180 | 2,004 | 1,924 | 1,883 | -6.18% | -2.13% | |
PL 221.40 CRIM SALE MARIJUANA-4TH | 2,742 | 3,116 | 2,399 | 1,816 | 1,779 | -35.12% | -2.04% | |
PL 121.11 CRIM OBSTRUCTION OF BREATHING | 1,735 | 1,778 | 1,749 | 1,646 | 1,552 | -10.55% | -5.71% | |
PL 215.50 CRIMINAL CONTEMPT- 2ND | 1,585 | 1,753 | 1,599 | 1,538 | 1,356 | -14.45% | -11.83% | |
PL 205.30 RESISTING ARREST | 2,648 | 2,325 | 1,640 | 1,241 | 828 | -68.73% | -33.28% | |
PL 165.40 CRIM POSSESSION STOLN PROP-5TH | 1,095 | 1,048 | 812 | 718 | 716 | -34.61% | -0.28% | |
PL 120.20 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT-2ND | 842 | 1,007 | 803 | 797 | 705 | -16.27% | -11.54% | |
PL 195.05 OBSTRUCT GOVERNMENTL ADMIN-2ND | 981 | 855 | 711 | 765 | 689 | -29.77% | -9.93% | |
PL 145.60 MAKING GRAFFITI | 1,224 | 1,121 | 1,014 | 640 | 684 | -44.12% | 6.88% | |
PL 230.04 PATRONIZE A PROSTITUTE-3RD | 765 | 409 | 508 | 531 | 582 | -23.92% | 9.60% | |
PL 140.15 CRIMINAL TRESPASS-2ND | 1,604 | 1,418 | 1,108 | 760 | 533 | -66.77% | -29.87% | |
PL 130.52 FORCIBLE TOUCHING | 506 | 482 | 528 | 555 | 509 | 0.59% | -8.29% | |
PL 170.20 POSSESS FORGED INSTRUMENT-3RD | 321 | 401 | 301 | 463 | 450 | 40.19% | -2.81% | |
PL 260.10 ENDANGERING WELFARE OF CHILD | 505 | 491 | 472 | 394 | 387 | -23.37% | -1.78% | |
PL 190.23 FALSE PERSONATION | 478 | 803 | 706 | 518 | 382 | -20.08% | -26.25% | |
PL 165.05 UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE-3RD | 406 | 494 | 406 | 430 | 350 | -13.79% | -18.60% | |
PL 120.15 MENACING-3RD | 439 | 417 | 384 | 358 | 328 | -25.28% | -8.38% | |
PL 230.00 PROSTITUTION | 896 | 910 | 749 | 616 | 293 | -67.30% | -52.44% | |
PL 220.50 CRIM USE DRUG PARA-2ND | 351 | 316 | 222 | 352 | 285 | -18.80% | -19.03% | |
PL 225.05 PROMOTING GAMBLING-2ND | 141 | 156 | 343 | 196 | 254 | 80.14% | 29.59% | |
PL 215.55 BAIL JUMPING-3RD | 398 | 388 | 402 | 383 | 245 | -38.44% | -36.03% | |
PL 165.16 UNAUTHORIZED SALE OF FARECARD | 427 | 397 | 380 | 309 | 233 | -45.43% | -24.60% | |
PL 221.15 CRIM POSS MARIJUANA-4TH | 338 | 261 | 245 | 254 | 217 | -35.80% | -14.57% | |
PL 245.00 PUBLIC LEWDNESS | 269 | 357 | 337 | 353 | 211 | -21.56% | -40.23% | |
PL 240.50 FALSE REPORT INCIDENT-3RD | 233 | 205 | 197 | 187 | 179 | -23.18% | -4.28% | |
PL 165.71 TRADEMARK COUNTERFEITING 3RD | 474 | 491 | 329 | 276 | 172 | -63.71% | -37.68% | |
VTL 600 LEAVE SCENE OF ACCIDENT | 107 | 166 | 160 | 151 | 165 | 54.21% | 9.27% | |
PL 155.30 GRAND LARCENY-4TH | 205 | 183 | 184 | 183 | 147 | -28.29% | -19.67% | |
PL 205.20 PROMOTING PRISON CONTRABAND-2ND | 106 | 140 | 117 | 122 | 126 | 18.87% | 3.28% | |
PL 215.51 CRIMINAL CONTEMPT-1ST | 118 | 119 | 99 | 107 | 112 | -5.08% | 4.67% | |
PL 120.45 STALKING-4TH | 87 | 130 | 92 | 123 | 105 | 20.69% | -14.63% | |
PL 225.30 POSSESS GAMBLING DEVICE | 77 | 98 | 138 | 125 | 100 | 29.87% | -20.00% | |
PL 140.35 POSSESSION OF BURGLAR TOOLS | 180 | 182 | 122 | 131 | 91 | -49.44% | -30.53% | |
PL 135.05 UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT-2ND | 131 | 117 | 102 | 100 | 83 | -36.64% | -17.00% | |
PL 170.05 FORGERY-3RD | 36 | 67 | 57 | 74 | 74 | 105.56% | 0.00% | |
PL 260.20 UNLAWFULLY DEALING W-CHILD-1ST | 161 | 92 | 92 | 83 | 72 | -55.28% | -13.25% | |
PL 190.25 CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION-2ND | 138 | 136 | 86 | 74 | 60 | -56.52% | -18.92% | |
PL 165.30 FRAUDULENT ACCOSTING | 70 | 99 | 75 | 97 | 56 | -20.00% | -42.27% | |
PL 145.05 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF-3RD | 40 | 72 | 54 | 63 | 54 | 35.00% | -14.29% | |
PL 225.15 POSSESS GAMBLING RECORDS-2ND | 117 | 69 | 98 | 85 | 51 | -56.41% | -40.00% | |
PL 240.45 CRIMINAL NUISANCE-2ND | 30 | 42 | 25 | 41 | 49 | 63.33% | 19.51% | |
PL 230.20 PROMOTING PROSTITUTION-4TH | 32 | 30 | 53 | 35 | 44 | 37.50% | 25.71% | |
PL 221.35 CRIM SALE MARIJUANA-5TH | 100 | 68 | 46 | 34 | 43 | -57.00% | 26.47% | |
PL 240.08 INCITING TO RIOT | 91 | 80 | 32 | 14 | 36 | -60.44% | 157.14% | |
PL 165.00 MISAPPLICATION OF PROPERTY | 59 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 35 | -40.68% | -12.50% | |
PL 145.14 CRIMINAL TAMPERING-3RD | 4 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 34 | 750.00% | 70.00% | |
PL 145.65 POSSESSION OF GRAFFITI INST | 68 | 51 | 47 | 47 | 33 | -51.47% | -29.79% | |
PL 215.40 TAMPER WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE | 90 | 74 | 22 | 48 | 31 | -65.56% | -35.42% | |
PL 270.05 UNLAW POSS-SELL NOXIOUS MATTER | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 383.33% | 163.64% | |
PL 260.24 ENDANGER WELFARE OF INCOMPT/DISABLED-2ND | 1 | 28 | 15 | 24 | 29 | 2800.00% | 20.83% | |
VTL 511 AGG UNLICENSED OPERATION OF MV | 242 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 27 | -88.84% | 22.73% | |
PL 115.00 CRIMINAL FACILITATION-4TH | 8 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 27 | 237.50% | 80.00% | |
PL 220.45 POSSESSION HYPODERMIC INSTRUMT | 30 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 26 | -13.33% | -10.34% | |
PL 240.10 UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY | 173 | 166 | 127 | 58 | 24 | -86.13% | -58.62% | |
AM 353 TORTURE ANIMALS | 19 | 22 | 39 | 39 | 24 | 26.32% | -38.46% | |
PL 240.25 HARASSMENT 1ST | 42 | 33 | 25 | 29 | 23 | -45.24% | -20.69% | |
PL 130.20 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT | 32 | 36 | 34 | 35 | 23 | -28.13% | -34.29% | |
PL 130.55 SEXUAL ABUSE-3RD | 45 | 64 | 26 | 32 | 21 | -53.33% | -34.38% | |
PL 240.37 LOITERING FOR PROSTITUTION | 186 | 124 | 136 | 48 | 20 | -89.25% | -58.33% | |
PL 210.45 FALSE WRITTEN STATEMENT | 32 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 18 | -43.75% | 50.00% | |
PL 165.09 AUTO STRIPPING-3RD | 44 | 29 | 38 | 22 | 17 | -61.36% | -22.73% | |
PL 165.25 JOSTLING | 20 | 15 | 17 | 22 | 17 | -15.00% | -22.73% | |
PL 190.78 IDENTITY THEFT 3RD | 10 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 60.00% | -15.79% | |
PL 270.00 UNLAW DEALING W-FIREWORKS MISD | 91 | 124 | 54 | 45 | 13 | -85.71% | -71.11% | |
PL 178.10 CRIM DIVERSON PRESCRIP-4TH | 35 | 32 | 24 | 16 | 12 | -65.71% | -25.00% | |
PL 145.15 CRIMINAL TAMPERING-2ND | 33 | 20 | 7 | 22 | 12 | -63.64% | -45.45% | |
PL 270.25 FLEE OFFICER IN MOTOR VEH-3RD | 24 | 30 | 15 | 23 | 12 | -50.00% | -47.83% | |
PL 165.45 CRIM POSSESSION STOLN PROP-4TH | 16 | 26 | 9 | 8 | 11 | -31.25% | 37.50% | |
PL 120.50 STALKING-3RD | 13 | 23 | 5 | 17 | 11 | -15.38% | -35.29% | |
PL 130.25 RAPE-3RD | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
PL 175.35 OFFER FILE FALSE INSTRUMNT-1ST | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 22.22% | 175.00% | |
PL 195.00 OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT | 11 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 9 | -18.18% | 12.50% | |
PL 190.81 UNLAWFUL POSS PERSONAL ID-3RD | 12 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 8 | -33.33% | -52.94% | |
PL 150.01 ARSON 5TH | 7 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 14.29% | -11.11% | |
PL 175.05 FALSIFY BUSINESS RECORDS-2ND | 20 | 11 | 22 | 23 | 7 | -65.00% | -69.57% | |
PL 130.60 SEXUAL ABUSE-2ND | 17 | 17 | 13 | 22 | 7 | -58.82% | -68.18% | |
PL 135.45 CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE-2ND | 15 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 7 | -53.33% | -36.36% | |
PL 240.05 RIOT-2ND | 24 | 65 | 21 | 10 | 6 | -75.00% | -40.00% | |
PL 170.70 ILLEGAL POSS OF VEH IDENT NO | 25 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -80.00% | 0.00% | |
PL 175.30 OFFER FILE FALSE INSTRUMNT-2ND | 25 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 5 | -80.00% | -37.50% | |
PL 230.40 PERMITTING PROSTITUTION | 18 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 4 | -77.78% | -42.86% | |
PL 215.10 TAMPER WITH WITNESS-4TH | 10 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 4 | -60.00% | 0.00% | |
TAX 1814 EVADE CIG TAX LAW | 258 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | -98.84% | -57.14% | |
PL 275.35 FAIL DISCLOSE ORIGIN RECORDING-2ND | 85 | 48 | 27 | 6 | 2 | -97.65% | -66.67% | |
PL 145.25 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT PROPERTY | 12 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 2 | -83.33% | -81.82% | |
PL 240.36 LOITERING UNLAW USE CONTRL SUB | 13 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 1 | -92.31% | -87.50% | |
PL 205.55 HINDERING PROSECUTION-3RD | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | -90.00% | -50.00% | |
COR 168 FAILURE TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFNDR | 6 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | -83.33% | -50.00% | |
All Others | 299 | 400 | 227 | 301 | 219 | -26.76% | -27.24% |