By Jeff Kennedy
Crime affects everyone in Texas, so it’s important to understand the trends and be aware of which crimes lead to the most arrests in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety provides annual crime reports, allowing citizens to educate themselves on the most common crimes, as well as where these crimes occur most frequently.
If you have been arrested for any of the crimes discussed in this post, don’t hesitate to contact a criminal defense attorney at our office.
Most Common Reasons for Arrests in Texas
In 2016, the following were the most common crimes to be arrested for in Texas:
- Drug arrests were the most common, with over 144,000 total arrests.
- Combined arrests for aggravated assault and assault were over 118,000.
- Theft was also quite common, with over 79,000 arrests.
- Drunkenness caused over 64,000 Texans to be arrested.
- Driving while intoxicated was close behind, at over 62,000 arrests.
- Burglary was also common, with nearly 13,000 arrests in 2016.
- Disorderly conduct caused frequent arrests, with about 10,000 arrests last year.
Texas Crime Rates Are Down
According to the report, Texas experienced a decrease in overall crime from 2015 to 2016 of about 0.3 percent, in relation to the number of people currently living in Texas.
Drug-Related Offenses Take the Cake
Drugs are a major issue in all states, but as evidenced by Texas crime data, drug arrests account for the most arrests in the state of Texas if you combine all types of drug crimes.
Property Crime
Analyzing the data will show you that property crime is one of the most common crimes to be arrested for in Texas. This category combines all forms of property crime, such as burglary, vehicle theft, etc. Let’s take a look at the types of property most commonly stolen:
- Currency
- Jewelry and precious metals
- Clothing and furs
- Locally stolen motor vehicles
- Office equipment
- Electronics
- Firearms
- Household goods
- Consumable goods
- Livestock
Where Do These Crimes Occur Most Frequently?
It likely comes as no surprise that population correlates with crime rates; therefore, the most heavily populated cities also tend to have the highest crime rates. The following are some of the Texas cities with the highest crime rates:
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Dallas
- Austin
- Fort Worth
- Harris County
- El Paso
- Arlington
- Corpus Christi
- Lubbock
Call the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy
If you’ve been arrested, contact a criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy right away. Some deferred adjudication programs for first-time offenders are only available to a defendant for a short time, so don’t delay.
You may be able to get your charges dropped or dismissed if the prosecutor doesn’t have a solid case against you. The way to find out your options is speaking with an attorney who can assess your case.
We will fight to protect your rights and work to build you a strong defense. Call 817-605-1010 or complete the form at the bottom of this page to schedule your free case review.