State Police
Governor's Executive Budget Program Measures
Number of motor vehicle crashes
The State Police seek to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania's citizens and guests by preventing loss of life, injuries, and property damage occurring on Commonwealth highways as a result of motor vehicle crashes. Tracking the number of motor vehicle crashes is key for understanding how much progress has been made towards meeting that goal. Challenges to meeting this objective include operational constraints, an aging highway infrastructure, and environmental factors.
The State Police investigated 75,366 motor vehicle crashes in 2021-22. This is a 5.8 percent increase from 2020-21, and a 7.0 percent increase from 2019-20.
Number of fatal motor vehicle crashes
The State Police seek to reduce the frequency of fatal motor vehicle crashes as part of its mission to reduce the loss of life occurring on Commonwealth highways. The State Police works to meet this objective through traffic arrests, traffic warnings, seat belt enforcement, commercial vehicle safety inspections and enforcement, school bus inspections, highway condition reports, and other related activities. The same challenges that exist for reducing motor vehicle crashes also exist for reducing fatal motor vehicle crashes.
The State Police investigated 550 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2021-22. This is a 1.1 percent increase from 2020-21, and a 21.7 percent increase from 2019-20.
DUI-related crashes
The State Police seek to reduce the frequency of Driving Under the Influence (DUI)-related crashes as part of its ongoing mission to prevent loss of life, injuries, and property damage occurring on Commonwealth highways as a result of motor vehicle crashes. The State Police work to meet this objective through DUI enforcement, DUI checkpoints, DUI roving patrols, and other related activities.
The State Police investigated 4,666 DUI-related crashes in 2021-22. This is a 1.6 percent decrease from 2020-21, but a 0.2 percent increase from 2019-20.
Crime Index offenses per 100,000 population
Crime Index offenses are those crimes considered by law enforcement to be the most serious crimes that readily come to the attention of police and occur with a frequency great enough to be reported as a separate classification. Crime Index offenses are used nationally as a basis for comparison of criminal activity. They include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The tracking of Index offense rates is currently conducted through the Uniform Crime Reporting System and depends on victim reporting. The State Police work to meet the objective of reducing Crime Index offenses through thorough initial investigations, witness and suspect interviews, supplemental investigations, criminal arrests, and coordination with other police agencies experiencing similar trends, and other related crime enforcement activities. The Department also works to improve public awareness regarding crime prevention, victim/witness assistance, and available social services.
The State Police investigated an average of 666 Crime Index offenses per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 0.9 percent increase from 2020-21, but a 13.8 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Arrests for Crime Index offenses per 100,000 population
The number of arrests for Crime Index offenses is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce Crime Index offenses. This measure is tracked by the number of arrests per 100,000 population for Crime Index offenses, as reported in the Uniform Crime Reporting System.
The State Police made an average of 227 arrests for Crime Index offenses per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 3.7 percent increase from 2020-21, but a 25.1 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Percentage of Crime Index offenses cleared
The percentage of Crime Index offenses cleared is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce Crime Index offenses. This measure reports the percentage of Crime Index offenses that are solved and prosecuted or disposed of through other legal means.
The clearance rate for crime index offenses investigated by the State Police was 40%, in 2021-22. This is 2 percentage points higher than 2020-21, but 2 percentage points lower than 2019-20.
Number of violent crimes per 100,000 population
The State Police seek to promote justice and preserve peace through the detection, investigation, and prosecution of criminal activity in Pennsylvania. Violent crimes are the most serious index crimes and consist of the following types of offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The tracking of violent crime rates is currently conducted through the Uniform Crime Reporting System and depends on victim reporting. The primary challenge to meeting the Department’s objective to reduce violent crime rates is operational constraints within the Department.
The State Police investigated an average of 95 violent crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 16.7 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 25.8 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Arrests for violent crimes per 100,000 population
The number of arrests for violent crimes is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce violent crime offenses. This measure is tracked by the number of arrests per 100,000 population for violent crime offenses, as reported in the Uniform Crime Reporting System. The State Police works to meet this objective through investigative assistance, supplemental investigations, witness and suspect interviews, and other related activities.
The State Police made an average of 52 arrests for violent crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 23.5 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 42.2 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Percentage of violent crimes cleared
The percentage of violent crimes cleared is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce violent crime offenses. This measure reports the percentage of violent crime offenses that are solved and prosecuted or disposed of through other legal means. Challenges to clearing cases come in the form of a lack of investigative leads, lack of victim cooperation or inability of victim to cooperate, and other constraints within the Department.
The clearance rate for violent crime offenses investigated by the State Police was 73% in 2021-22. This is 3 percentage points higher than 2020-21, and 1 percentage point higher than 2019-20.
Number of property crimes per 100,000 population
Property crimes, while not considered as serious as violent crimes, contribute towards a much larger proportion of index offenses. Property crimes consist of the following types of offenses: burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. These are also currently tracked through the Uniform Crime Reporting System and depends on victim reporting. As with violent crimes, a primary challenge to meeting this objective is operational constraints within the Department.
The State Police investigated an average of 570 property crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 4.4 percent increase from 2020·21, but an 11.8 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Arrests for property crimes per 100,000 population
The number of arrests for property crimes is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce property crime offenses. This measure is tracked by the number of arrests per 100,000 population for property crime offenses, as reported in the Uniform Crime Reporting System. The State Police works to meet this objective through the same activities as for violent crime arrests.
The State Police made an average of 175 arrests for property crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 15.9 percent increase from 2020-21, but a 17.8 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Percentage of property crimes cleared
The percentage of property crimes cleared is a primary effectiveness measure in the Department’s mission to reduce property crime offenses. This measure reports the percentage of property crime offenses that are solved and prosecuted or disposed of through other legal means. Challenges to clearing cases are similar to those under violent crime clearances.
The clearance rate for property crime offenses investigated by the State Police was 35% in 2021-22. This is 4 percentage points higher than 2020-21, but 1 percentage point lower than 2019-20.
Drug offenses per 100,000 population
The State Police recognize that illicit substance use and abuse has an impact on crime rates in general, as well as a negative impact on the lives of citizens of this Commonwealth. The Department aggressively enforces laws related to illegal drugs in an effort to improve the quality of life in our communities. Progress towards this objective is tracked based on the number of drug offenses per 100,000 population as reported and tracked in the Uniform Crime Reporting System. Drug offenses consist of all drug sale and drug possession categories. Challenges to meeting this objective include the clandestine nature of the drug trade and societal perceptions of the risks associated with illegal drug use.
The State Police investigated an average of 333 drug crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 30.6 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 22.0 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Drug-related arrests per 100,000 population
The number of arrests for Drug-related offenses is a primary effectiveness measure in the State Police’s mission to reduce Drug-related offenses. This measure is tracked by the number of arrests per 100,000 population for Drug-related offenses, as reported in the Uniform Crime Reporting System. Additional progress indicators include the value of property seized and the quality of illicit contraband seized.
The State Police made an average of 292 arrests for drugs crimes per 100,000 population in 2021-22. This is a 32.4 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 25.7 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Liquor law violations
As part of its mission to improve the quality of life in our communities, the State Police aggressively enforces liquor law violations. Challenges to meeting this objective can include the unwillingness of licensees to comply with state liquor laws.
The State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, investigated 9,905 liquor law violations in 2021-22. This is a 29.7 percent decrease from 2020-21, and an 11.9 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Municipal law enforcement agencies receiving information from the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center
The State Police seek to promote justice, preserve peace, and prevent loss of life through diligent efforts to secure our communities, schools, houses of worship, large public gatherings, and infrastructure against both foreign and domestic threats. In an effort to collect, analyze, and share vital intelligence information in furtherance of law enforcement and homeland security goals, the State Police operates the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC). PaCIC provides 24-hour analytical intelligence assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout the Commonwealth. PaCIC is recognized by the United States Department of Homeland Security as Pennsylvania's Fusion Center.
PaCIC disseminated intelligence information to 1,268 municipal law enforcement agencies throughout the Commonwealth in 2021-22.
Intelligence products disseminated by the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center and the Western Pennsylvania All Hazards Fusion Center
The State Police strategize continuous improvement and refinement of the ability to collect, analyze, and share vital intelligence information in furtherance of law enforcement and homeland security goals. In order to track the workload of PaCIC and the Western Pennsylvania All Hazards Fusion Center, the State Police report the number of intelligence products prepared and/or shared with appropriate authorities.
PaCIC disseminated 61,761 intelligence products throughout the Commonwealth in 2021-22.
Department Watch Center immediate reports
The State Police Department Watch Center collects information on homeland security and hazardous incidents and disseminates accurate and timely situational awareness reports to affected municipal, state, and federal public safety agencies throughout the Commonwealth. These reports provide real-time information about active incidents, road closures, and other unusual events. With this information, command-level personnel are better equipped to make informed operational decisions. Challenges to meeting this objective include operational constraints and the level of collaboration between the State Police and other public safety agencies throughout the Commonwealth.
The Department Watch Center disseminated 2,703 immediate reports throughout the Commonwealth in 2021-22.
Municipal public safety agencies receiving road closure reports from the Department Watch Center
Annually, 1,286 municipal public safety agencies receive road closure reports from the Department Watch Center. These reports provide real-time information about active incidents, road closures, and other unusual events.
Percentage of statewide land area covered by Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network (PA-STARNet)
The State Police Bureau of Communications and Information Services (BCIS) maintains the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network to enhance communications capabilities between State Police agencies, as well as participating emergency agency networks. A critical measurement of the effectiveness of the program is the amount of land mass covered by this advanced radio system.
PA-STARNet maintained its land mass coverage at 97.9 percent in 2021-22.
Percentage of statewide road coverage by PA-STARNet
The State Police Bureau of Communications and Information Services (BCIS) PA-STARNet maintained its statewide roadway coverage at 98.4 percent in 2021-22.
Total number of individuals graduating from the Academy
The State Police seek to develop and maintain a distinguished and diverse workforce and to maintain sufficient staffing levels in order to effectively and safely serve the public and other law enforcement partners. Having a sufficient number of trained Academy graduates to fill the ranks of the Department is an important part in achieving that goal. Challenges to meeting this objective include recruitment funding constraints, increasing attrition, expanding law enforcement responsibilities, and an overall decrease in available resources.
The State Police graduated 261 individuals from the Academy in 2021-22. This is a 411.8 percent increase from 2020-21, but a 34.4 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Average length of time in months from application date until Academy start date
In order to maintain its ranks, the State Police must be able to effectively and efficiently process Cadet Applications, so that appropriate candidates can be selected and begin training. An efficiency measure that the State Police utilizes to track progress in this goal is the average time in months needed to process applications, select candidates, and begin Cadet basic training.
The State Police had an average length of time of 18 months in 2021-22. This is a 28.0 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 14.3 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Cadet applications
Cadet applications are a primary measure of the Department’s progress towards recruiting new members to join its ranks. The Cadet application is the first step towards becoming a Trooper, and precedes applicant testing, candidate selection, Cadet selection, and ultimately Academy training.
The State Police received 3,645 cadet applications in 2021-22. This is a 38.5 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 48.9 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Cadet applications from traditionally underrepresented groups
As part of its mission to recruit, hire, and retain a professional and distinguished workforce, reflective of the diversity within the Commonwealth, the State Police monitors the number of Cadet applications received from traditionally underrepresented groups. These groups consist of females and non-white males. The Department measures its progress in this mission through the number of applications, applicant testing, candidate background investigations administered, and other related activities. Challenges to meeting this objective include recruitment funding constraints, expanding law enforcement responsibilities, and an overall decrease in available resources.
The State Police received 1,632 cadet applications from traditionally underrepresented groups in 2021-22. This is a 39.9 percent decrease from 2020-21, and a 42.9 percent decrease from 2019-20.
Total number of individuals graduating from traditionally underrepresented groups from the Academy
The State Police graduated 64 individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups from the Academy in 2021-22. This is a 392.3 percent increase from 2020-21, and a 1.6 percent increase from 2019-20.