PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

CONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977

Chicago crime declines, but becomes more violent over 10 years 

A report from the Illinois Policy Institute finds cases of homicide and motor vehicle theft each increased by over 30% in the past decade. Arrest rates hit a 10-year low in 2022.

CHICAGO (Oct. 12, 2023) – Overall, crime rates have improved in Chicago during the past 10 years, but a new analysis shows reported crimes have become increasingly violent.

In 2022, reports of violent crimes, such as homicides and assault, were up by 41% and 4%, respectively, compared to 2012, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Motor vehicle thefts also rose by over 30% during the past 10 years. This came as total reports of crime in Chicago were 29% lower than a decade ago, with burglary, robbery, theft and battery seeing the biggest declines.

Two of the largest factors contributing to the rise in crime came from a decade-high 21,445 instances of motor vehicle theft and 20,789 cases of assault in 2022.

Experts at the Illinois Policy Institute project decade-high motor vehicle thefts and assaults, in addition to cases of battery, robbery and theft, will surpass their 2022 levels in 2023. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2023, Chicagoans already reported 13% more overall crimes than during the first eight months of 2022.

“While overall crime in Chicago has decreased in the past decade, the nature of crime has shifted location and severity," said Patrick Andriesen, a writer at the Illinois Policy Institute. “Chicago saw criminal activity increase in 2022 in areas with historically low levels of violence such as the Loop and West Loop. This trend seems to be continuing in 2023.”

Meanwhile, arrest rates hit their lowest levels in a decade in 2022, with just 12% of crimes resulting in an arrest.

“Under the Johnson administration, Chicago is projected to see even more crime than last year in many categories, making it too common for Chicagoans to suffer from violent crimes such as homicides, gun violence and assault,” said Paul Vallas, policy adviser for the Illinois Policy Institute. “Chicago’s growing crime problem needs more resources, not sluggish leadership. Understaffed and overworked police officers are one of the largest contributors to the plummeting arrest rate. Crime will continue to rise in frequency and severity if we can’t provide our brave police the resources they need to combat it.”

To read more about Chicago crime, visit illin.is/chicagocrime.

For interviews or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.