Quick answer: The latest DOJ download contains 57,114 reported felony and misdemeanor arrests and citations for 2025 in its San Diego County rows: 20,269 felony and 36,845 misdemeanor. Misdemeanors make up 64.5% of that reported event count. Coverage is incomplete, including some San Diego Sheriff data for January through June 2025, so 57,114 is not a complete annual census. The offense tables below use DOJ’s broad felony categories and SANDAG’s separate Group B breakdown. These figures measure different reporting units and do not identify every charge, unique person, jail booking or conviction.
Updated September 30, 2026. This guide uses the DOJ arrest file through 2025 and its June 2026 definitions, plus SANDAG’s September 2026 regional report. Each figure is labeled by data year, geography and counting method. Published counts may be revised.
Start With the Source and the Unit Being Counted
San Diego arrest reason statistics can help explain how enforcement activity is classified. They become misleading when a reported crime, an arrest, a booking and a conviction are treated as the same event. The source and denominator matter as much as the number.
| Published measure | Data year and geography | What is counted | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOJ: 57,114 reported felony and misdemeanor events | 2025; San Diego County reporting-agency rows | Arrests and citations classified in those two levels | Incomplete agency reporting; not a unique-person or jail-admission count |
| SANDAG: 38,189 Group B records | 2025-labeled column; San Diego region | One Group B offense per reported arrest in that system | A selected reporting category, with different coverage and methods from the DOJ file |
| SANDAG: 121,415 Group A offenses | 2025-labeled column; San Diego region | Recorded crime offenses, which can include several offenses within one incident | An offense count, not a total arrest count |
The DOJ numbers come from the official OpenJustice arrest download. The two SANDAG figures come from Crime in the San Diego Region, 2025, published in September 2026. Keep each measure attached to its source instead of combining them into one supposed total.
In this guide: DOJ county counts | Felony categories | Group B categories | Offenses and arrests | Comparisons and revisions | What families can use | How Bail Hotline Can Help | FAQs.
DOJ’s Reported County Counts for 2025
The county label refers to the reporting agency
The DOJ definitions document, revised June 2026, defines its county field as the county of the reporting agency. These San Diego County rows are not limited to San Diego Police Department, and they are not a count of San Diego city residents.
The totals here add the file’s supplied age and demographic groups for the named county and year. They include adult and juvenile age groups represented in the file. A county reporting label does not establish where each person lives or provide an individual’s circumstances.
Felony and misdemeanor counts have different coverage from actual annual events
The following values were calculated from the DOJ file downloaded September 30, 2026. Each column is a reported-file count. The table does not estimate the submissions that are missing.
| DOJ classification | Reported 2024 count | Reported 2025 count |
|---|---|---|
| Felony arrests and citations | 19,283 | 20,269 |
| Misdemeanor arrests and citations | 40,178 | 36,845 |
| Combined felony and misdemeanor count | 59,461 | 57,114 |
For the reported 2025 combined count of 57,114, the felony share is 35.5% and the misdemeanor share is 64.5%. Those are shares of the supplied arrest-and-citation counts. No resident-population denominator is used, so the percentages cannot be read as the proportion of residents who were arrested.
Incomplete Sheriff reporting is a material limit
The DOJ context document says the San Diego County Sheriff did not report all data for January through June 2025. It also says Palomar College Police began reporting in July 2025. For 2024, it identifies incomplete Sheriff data for November through December.
These qualifications belong beside the numbers. The difference between 59,461 and 57,114 does not establish a clean change in all actual county arrests. The data cannot isolate the effects of enforcement activity, missing submissions, coverage changes or other influences from that comparison alone.
Do not double a half-year count or insert an assumed average for missing months. An estimate made that way would be a new calculation with unsupported assumptions, rather than the reported annual measure readers are looking for.
Which DOJ Felony Categories Were Largest?
The current public DOJ file divides felony arrests into five broad categories. The following table uses the 20,269 reported felony arrests and citations in the 2025 San Diego County rows as its denominator. It does not use the larger felony-plus-misdemeanor count.
| DOJ felony category | Reported 2025 count | Share of reported felony count | Examples in DOJ’s category definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| All other felony offenses | 8,843 | 43.6% | DUI, hit-and-run, weapons, escape, bookmaking and other offenses classified at the felony level |
| Violent offenses | 5,872 | 29.0% | Homicide, rape, robbery, assault and kidnapping |
| Property offenses | 3,471 | 17.1% | Burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, forgery/checks/access cards and arson |
| Drug offenses | 1,888 | 9.3% | Narcotics, marijuana, dangerous drugs and other felony drug offenses |
| Sex offenses | 195 | 1.0% | Lewd or lascivious offenses, unlawful sexual intercourse and other sex-law violations in this category |
Source: DOJ’s 2025 county rows and its June 2026 category definitions. Percentages are calculated from 20,269 and rounded to one decimal place.
A large catch-all category is not one specific arrest reason
All other felony offenses is the largest of these five reported groups. That finding does not identify one single statute as the most common reason for every San Diego arrest. The category combines several different kinds of conduct and includes a residual group.
The same caution applies to misdemeanor totals. This public file supplies a combined misdemeanor column, rather than a separate count for every misdemeanor statute. It does not support naming one particular misdemeanor as the leading reason across the entire reported county count.
Familiar words can have narrower statistical meanings
Read the actual definitions instead of interpreting a label only through everyday language. For example, DOJ lists rape in its violent-offense category. The separate sex-offense row is therefore not a count of all arrests related to sexual offenses.
Similarly, the all-other felony definition includes DUI cases classified at that level. It does not mean every DUI allegation is a felony. A reporting category groups data; the actual statutory allegation, case record and legal circumstances must be assessed separately.
SANDAG’s Separate Group B Breakdown
SANDAG’s September 2026 report gives a more specific breakdown for its 2025-labeled Group B category. Under the report’s counting explanation, Group B records are submitted when an arrest occurs, with one Group B offense counted per arrest report. They are a subset of reported enforcement activity.
The following values are the 2025 column of Appendix Table 13, page 73. They describe the San Diego region used in that report, rather than San Diego city alone.
| SANDAG Group B category | Reported 2025-labeled count |
|---|---|
| All other offenses | 25,990 |
| Disorderly conduct | 5,490 |
| Driving under the influence | 4,879 |
| Curfew/loitering/vagrancy violations | 903 |
| Trespass of real property | 723 |
| Liquor law violations | 198 |
| Family offenses, nonviolent | 6 |
| Total Group B records | 38,189 |
The seven categories add to 38,189. This is not an additional 38,189 events to place on top of the DOJ total. The two systems have different coverage and category structures, and their records can concern overlapping activity.
What the DUI figure means
The report’s DUI row contains 4,879 Group B records in its 2025 column. That is approximately 12.8% of its 38,189 Group B records, not 12.8% of all DOJ county arrests or of residents.
Use this figure for the specific source, year and reporting category it describes. It does not give a conviction rate, a count of distinct drivers, or a prediction about one person’s charge or release. It should not be mixed with a drug-offense crime count from another part of the report.
The report uses a different Sheriff-data collection path
SANDAG describes combining information from the Automated Regional Justice Information System, or ARJIS, with records supplied directly by the Sheriff for parts of 2024 and 2025 during a records-system transition. It also warns that its aggregate figures may differ from figures obtained directly from an agency’s own system.
This is important when comparing sources. The DOJ file’s missing-submission notes and the SANDAG report’s supplementary collection process do not describe an identical dataset. Neither source should be silently substituted for the other.
Source-date note: The SANDAG bulletin labels this table as annual 2025 data and was published in September 2026. Its page 3 extraction-month statement conflicts with a full-year 2025 series. The values here are presented as the report published them; the exact extraction date has not been independently confirmed. The report says its data may change as new information becomes available.
Why Group A Offenses Are Not a Total Arrest Count
The same SANDAG report lists 121,415 reported Group A offenses for 2025. Those are offense counts. They should not be presented as 121,415 arrests, people taken to jail or convictions.
The report explains that an incident can contain more than one Group A offense. Counting also differs by category: offenses against persons can be counted by victim, while property and society offenses use other specified rules. An arrest statistic and an offense statistic can therefore differ even when both relate to the same event.
As a simple hypothetical illustration, an incident involving more than one offense or victim may generate several offense counts. An arrest dataset selecting the most serious offense answers another question. Adding the crime counts to arrest counts would combine different units rather than reveal the number of people arrested.
Group A and Group B are reporting categories
Group A and Group B belong to the incident-based reporting framework. They are not interchangeable with the felony and misdemeanor levels in the DOJ table. The systems group and count information differently.
For a family reading paperwork, a specific statute and offense level are more useful than guessing from a statistical group. A person described in a Group B record should not be assumed to face one uniform legal situation, and a Group A crime count should not be assumed to correspond to a booked person.
Read Year-to-Year Comparisons With the Coverage Notes
Match the year, geography, category and method
A useful comparison needs the same question on both sides. Check whether the figures concern a city agency, county reporting-agency rows or a regional collection. Check whether they cover six months, a calendar year or a live dashboard period.
Then identify what is counted: offenses, arrests and citations, bookings, court filings or outcomes. A change between unlike measures can look precise while answering no meaningful question.
For these current figures, DOJ’s county field and incomplete submissions are explicit. SANDAG’s Group B and Group A columns have their own reporting rules and supplementary-data explanation. Keep those differences when discussing the apparent size or direction of a number.
Use the data year separately from the publication year
A report published in 2026 can describe arrests or offenses recorded in 2025. The update date of this guide likewise identifies when the sources were checked, rather than making the underlying events 2026 events.
Earlier mid-year 2024 reporting described January through June at that report’s snapshot. It is historical context, not a current annual count. Later publications and downloads can use updated records or different coverage. A half-year figure should not be doubled and described as an observed full-year result.
Published administrative data can be revised
Agency submissions, corrections, reporting-system transitions and definitions can affect the figures. DOJ identifies known limitations, and SANDAG says its data can change as new information becomes available. Record the source edition or download date when using the numbers.
These qualifications do not make the tables useless. They identify the question each table can answer. A reported-file share explains the mix within that file; it does not automatically measure all crime, all residents or a person’s chance of release.
What These Statistics Can and Cannot Tell a Family
Arrests and citations are not unique people or jail admissions
DOJ’s definitions place arrests and citations under the arrest-data label. Some people are cited or released by an agency instead of remaining in jail. This dataset does not provide a distinct-person count or the number held in custody at one moment.
An annual count is also different from a booking count maintained by a custody system. Do not use the reported 57,114 figure to infer how many people are currently in San Diego jails or where one person is located.
The completed San Diego County jail guide covers the separate facility and custody-information task. The San Diego arrest-records guide explains the record-access task. Their procedures are more appropriate for an individual question than a countywide statistical table.
Arrest allegations, charges and convictions are different stages
An arrest-reporting category records an enforcement classification. It does not itself establish that a prosecutor filed every allegation, that the person entered a particular plea, or that a court convicted the person.
DOJ’s separate agency-disposition definitions illustrate this distinction. For example, complaint sought describes an adult arrestee being referred to the district attorney for action. That label is not a court conviction. Read the actual case record and obtain appropriate legal advice when the question concerns a person’s case.
Identify the facts that matter to the current situation
If the concern is someone arrested now, organize the available identifying information, responsible agency, case or booking reference, stated allegations and actual release information. Preserve the source and date of what you know, and identify any item that still needs confirmation.
A statistical ranking does not set that person’s bail, establish their bond eligibility or replace an order. The actual case, court and custody requirements, and any proposed bond terms need their own explanation. Use counsel for legal questions and the appropriate agency or licensed agent for the information within their role.
How Bail Hotline Can Help
Everything above this section is written to be useful whether or not you ever call us. This is the one place we talk about ourselves.
Bail Hotline is family-owned and has served families since 2004 through DMCG, Inc., California Department of Insurance license 1845394. Our team is available 24/7 at (888) 958-1228 for bail information and assistance.
Get help with an individual arrest question
An aggregate table cannot locate your loved one or explain every detail of the current bond. We provide free assistance searching available inmate, warrant, court and bail information, along with bail guidance, without an obligation to purchase a bond. Tell us what you know so we can help identify the available information and next step. Our About page explains those services.
Our agents work from the actual situation, including the relevant county, available custody information and release requirements. A large, complicated or out-of-county bond is not an automatic no. Statistical category names are a starting point for questions, while the individual facts and applicable approvals govern the arrangement.
Understand the approved arrangement and continuing support
We walk cosigners through agreements and explain the actual premium, approved starting payment, remaining balance, schedule and responsibilities. Payment plans are available on approved bonds, and multiple people can contribute as coordinated for the transaction. Supported paperwork can be completed by phone and online.
Dedicated posting agents are available around the clock. Continuing support includes court-date text reminders, warrant walk-through assistance where the court, jail and local procedures allow, and bond-related guidance. American Locator and Recovery is a trusted separate partner we have worked with for a long time when recovery assistance is relevant.
Every case is different. The judge makes court decisions, actual terms require the applicable approvals, and the jail completes its release process. Honest mistakes and intentional noncompliance can raise different issues. We work through the available facts and services without promising a legal outcome or release time.
| Local area | Direct office information |
|---|---|
| San Diego | San Diego Bail Office |
Our locations directory lists additional offices, and the bail FAQ answers other common process questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most common arrest category in the 2025 DOJ county file?
Misdemeanors accounted for 36,845 of the 57,114 reported felony and misdemeanor events, or 64.5%. Within the separate reported felony count of 20,269, all other felony offenses was the largest broad group at 8,843. Neither finding names one single leading statute across every actual arrest, and the reporting gaps remain material.
Are these San Diego city statistics?
The DOJ values are San Diego County reporting-agency rows. The SANDAG values are for its San Diego regional collection. Neither should be relabeled as San Diego Police Department-only or city-resident-only data.
Are the figures arrests that occurred in 2026?
The main tables use 2025 data labels. Their source publications and this guide’s update date are in 2026. Keep the event year separate from the date the report became available or was checked.
Does 57,114 mean 57,114 different people went to jail?
No such distinct-person or admission count is supplied by this file. DOJ’s arrest-data definition includes citations, and not every arrest results in a continuing jail stay. Use actual custody information for a present detention question.
How many DUI records does the SANDAG report show?
Its September 2026 report’s 2025 Group B column shows 4,879 DUI records. That is about 12.8% of the report’s 38,189 Group B count, rather than a share of all DOJ county arrests. The source’s edition, category and data qualifications must stay with the figure.
Does the felony drug row count all drug-related arrests?
The 1,888 figure is the reported felony drug category in the selected 2025 DOJ rows. The file’s combined misdemeanor total is not broken into every specific misdemeanor offense. A Group A drug-offense crime count is another unit and cannot be substituted for missing arrest detail.
Can I add Group A and Group B to get all arrests?
Group A in this publication counts crime offenses, while Group B counts one reported offense per arrest in that category. Combining unlike units does not produce a total arrest count. The DOJ file also has its own classification and coverage.
Does the lower reported DOJ total prove arrests or crime fell?
The published counts differ, but identified missing Sheriff submissions and other coverage changes prevent a clean all-county trend conclusion from that comparison alone. Read matched sources and their limitations before assigning a cause or describing a complete annual change.
Can an offense share tell me whether a bond will be approved?
A category share describes the reported data, not the person’s case or proposed transaction. Identify the actual allegations, release requirements and available bond terms. Court decisions and required approvals must be considered for that individual situation.
Why We Publish This
Statistics are more useful when their dates, categories and counting units stay visible. This guide helps families read reported data accurately and recognize when an individual record or legal question requires a different source. The actual facts, law and court orders govern a particular case.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources checked September 30, 2026. DOJ calculations use the file downloaded on that date. SANDAG values are the published report’s year-labeled columns, subject to its coverage and revision notes.
- DOJ OpenJustice data portal, arrest file through 2025, and definitions and limitations, revised June 2026.
- DOJ announcement of the 2025 annual statistical reports, July 1, 2026.
- SANDAG Crime in the San Diego Region, 2025, September 2026, especially pages 3, 16, 17, 22 and Appendix Table 13 on page 73.
- SANDAG Criminal Justice Research and Clearinghouse.