Arrests and Criminal Complaints

An arrest is the power and authority of a police officer to apprehend and deprive persons of their liberty, as provided by law, in order that such persons may be brought before the court to answer to criminal charges.

DUPD Officers are sight officers; they do not have the authority to prepare any affidavits or complaints to obtain an arrest warrant for an offense. This action, through the University’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), is done only through an investigation by a PPD detective or DUPD detective with the assistance of the PPD.

Per the MOU, DUPD officers can make an arrest in the following circumstances:

  • for any felony crime, without a warrant, that they witness being committed in their presence;
  • for a felony with probable cause that is not committed in their presence;
  • for a felony or misdemeanor that was previously committed if the officer has knowledge that an outstanding arrest warrant was issued for the offender for that specific incident;
  • for a misdemeanor crime if it is committed in their presence; and
  • for a summary crime with the issuance of a summary citation for a minor offense committed in their presence.

Total Arrests by Offense

Offense 2022 2023 2024
Arson 0 0 1
Assault 6 9 8
Auto Theft 4 1 2
Burglary 1 1 11
Disorderly Conduct 7 6 6
Drunkenness 0 0 2
DUI 9 1 6
Homicide 0 0 1
Investigation 12 16 43
Liquor Law 0 1 5
Narcotic 5 1 6
Other Offense 4 10 9
Priority 2 0 0 3
Robbery 11 3 7
Sex Offense 1 3 3
Theft 16 12 5
Vandalism 0 0 3
Vehicle Accident 0 0 1
Weapons 5 1 1
TOTAL 81 65 123

2022-2024 Demographics

Total Arrests and Criminal Complaints

Arrests and Criminal Complaints by Affiliation

Affiliation Status Number out of 269 Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024 Percentage of Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
Not affiliated 264 98%
Affiliated (Student) 5 2%
Affiliated (Employee) 0 0%

Arrests and Criminal Complaints by Race

Race Affiliation  Number out of 269 Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
Percentage of Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
White Nonaffiliate 83 31%
White Affiliate 4 1.5%
Black/African American Nonaffiliate
167 62%
Black/African American Affiliate 1  <1%
Unknown Nonaffiliate
8 3%
Asian Nonaffiliate
5 2%
Pacific Islander Nonaffiliate
1 <1%

Arrests and Criminal Complaints by Ethnicity

Ethnicity Affiliation  Number out of 269 Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024 Percentage of Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
Hispanic Nonaffiliate  7 3%
Non-Hispanic Nonaffiliate
210 78%
Non-Hispanic Affiliate 5 2%
Unknown Nonaffiliate
47 7%

Arrests and Criminal Complaints by Age

Age Number out of 269 Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024 Percentage of Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
16 and under 16 6%
17-24 67 25%
25 and over 186 69%

Arrests and Criminal Complaints by Gender

Gender Number out of 269 Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024 Percentage of Total Arrests/Criminal Complaints over 2022-2024
Male 221 82%
Female 47 17%
Other 1 <1%

The data above is based on calendar year and updated annually. Last updated: March 2025.