Police Stop Making Arrests For Some Crimes
Atlanta Ga March 19 2020
As courts across the country respond to the spread of the coronavirus by postponing jury trials and limiting what cases are heard, police are responding by making less arrests and in some cases choosing not to make arrests involving low level crimes unless there is a threat to public safety.
This will mean that some crimes reported by any citizen, including security officers, may not be responded to or may require a report be completed online or by phone.
Minor arrests in many areas will also not be made at the time of the crime.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw addressed the new protocol put in place during the coronavirus emergency.
“Persons who commit certain non-violent offenses will be arrested at the scene. Once their identity has been confirmed, they will be released and processed via arrest warrant. This is similar to the ‘summons process’ that is utilized in many other counties throughout the Commonwealth,” Outlaw said.
She explained if the officer and supervisor believe the individual poses a threat to public safety, the suspect can be taken into custody for immediate processing.
“To be clear, the Philadelphia Police Department is not turning a blind eye to crime,” Outlaw posted to social media early Wednesday.
The Fort Worth Texas police chief announced a similar protocol during the virus outbreak.
The Fort Worth Police Department will stop arresting people for low-level crimes if a ticket can be issued in its place.
Police officers in Fort Worth will not be allowed to make a Class C misdemeanor arrest without approval from a watch commander. Class C misdemeanors include crimes such as thefts less than $100 and vandalism.
The move in Fort Worth mirrors similar policies enacted in Denver, San Francisco, Brooklyn, New York, and Oak Forest, Illinois, Philadelphia and Tampa Florida.
Other areas are also “delaying arrests. If an officer determines that a non-violent, low-level crime has been committed, the officer may issue a criminal summons, file a report and seek an arrest warrant latter or may identify the person and have the “victim” seek an arrest warrant.
Police and sheriff departments however will continue making arrests for violent or serious offenses or when a person is deemed to be a danger to public safety.
