From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — The number of criminal cases involving a drug delivery resulting in death has declined statewide over the past five years, according to data released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

Under Pennsylvania law, the offense applies when a person intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes a controlled substance and another person dies as a result of using it.

Statewide, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts reported charges decreased by 22% from 2024 to 2025, while convictions declined by 72% during the same period. Separate court data showed the number of criminal cases filed that included the offense fell from 122 in 2024 to 89 in 2025.

Court records also showed filings declined each year during the five-year period, dropping from 178 cases in 2021 to 154 in 2022, 141 in 2023, 122 in 2024 and 89 in 2025.

In Mifflin County, two such cases were filed between 2021 and 2025, according to county-by-county data accompanying the report. One case was filed in 2021 and another in 2023. No cases were filed in Mifflin County in 2022, 2024 or 2025.

Juniata County was not included in the county-by-county data accompanying the release.

Snyder County recorded two cases during the five-year period, with one filing in 2021 and another in 2024.

Perry County recorded 21 cases during the period, including nine in 2021, four in 2022, five in 2023 and three in 2024. No cases were filed there in 2025.

Huntingdon County recorded six cases during the five-year period, including four in 2023 and one each in 2024 and 2025.

Among neighboring counties, Blair County recorded 28 cases, followed by Clearfield County with nine and Centre County with four. Centre County’s total included one case in 2021, two in 2022 and one in 2023.

Statewide, 684 criminal cases involving the offense were filed between 2021 and 2025. Lancaster County recorded the highest total with 44 cases, followed by Monroe County with 41, Cumberland County with 40 and York County with 38.

The data was released as part of PA Courts InfoShare, a monthly publication produced by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts that highlights court-related statistics and trends using information from the judiciary’s case management systems and research databases.