Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced on Tuesday that the department will hold off on arrests for nonviolent crimes due to the coronavirus outbreak. This includes crimes such as theft, drug offenses and prostitution.
The new policy states that officers should temporarily detain offenders to obtain their identity and prepare necessary paperwork, then release the offender once that process is completed. Arrest warrants will be served at a later time to avoid overcrowding in jails.