Despite a decrease in overall crime data on the New York City subway, the threat still remains very real for many passengers. According to the New York Post, a group composed of 63 “subway habitual offenders” has collectively been arrested over 5,000 times, with only 5 of them currently behind bars while the majority continue to roam the streets and subway system.
These repeat offenders are involved in various crimes such as assaults, robberies, thefts, fare evasion, and even sexual harassment. Due to the criminal justice reform in New York State in 2019, which prohibits judges from setting bail for most non-violent crimes, suspects are often “arrested and released,” repeatedly returning to the streets.
Frustrated police sources state that despite the decrease in crime rates, the recurring chaos caused by these individuals makes the subway appear to be in disarray.
According to the latest data from the NYPD, subway crime in the first eight months of this year has decreased by 3.8% compared to the same period in 2024, with a total decline of 6% over the past two years. However, the bail reform system has made it nearly impossible to keep these habitual offenders in long-term detention.
Among the notorious subway habitual offenders, Michael Wilson (39 years old) has been arrested a total of 198 times, with 190 of those incidents related to the subway. Just this year, he has been arrested 36 times, often for suspected vandalism of ticket vending machines and theft, leading to his repeated imprisonment and release. Police jokingly suggest he should be inducted into the “Subway Crime Hall of Fame.”
Kenney Mitchell (28 years old) has been arrested 149 times, including 18 times since May of this year for thefts and forgeries. In June, he was found lying on the C-line platform with multiple packets of drugs on him.
Carlos Baezcaban (53 years old) has been arrested a total of 72 times for serious thefts, trespassing, and drug possession. In May, he was on probation for “possession of stolen property,” but has since been arrested at least 6 more times.
Police sources point out that ten years ago, the conviction rate for serious subway crimes was around 81%, but now it has dropped to only 36% to 38%. Most legal representation is provided by public defense organizations, but due to the cases being considered as minor offenses, the judicial handling often downplays the severity of the crimes.