News (Media Awareness Project) - US IL: State Crime Rate Down, Drug Arrests Up In Last Decade |
| Title: | US IL: State Crime Rate Down, Drug Arrests Up In Last Decade |
| Published On: | 2001-07-15 |
| Source: | Courier News (IL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-01 01:16:01 |
STATE CRIME RATE DOWN, DRUG ARRESTS UP IN LAST DECADE
SPRINGFIELD - The state's crime rate plunged during the 1990s, a decade
that also saw drug arrests jump dramatically and Chicago drop out of the
top spot for crime rates in major Illinois cities.
Illinois' crime rate dropped about 26 percent in the decade that ended
in 2000, according to Illinois State Police statistics. Last year,
Illinoisans reported just less than 44 crimes per 1,000 people, while
the 1990 rate was nearly 60 crimes per 1,000.
The statistics just for 2000, released today by the state police, show
the crime rate dropped 4.5 percent from 1999. That includes a drop in
all eight categories of violent and property crime tracked by the annual
report.
Over the last decade, though, the number of drug arrests soared. The
rate of arrests for drug offenses has more than doubled since 1990, to
9.3 for every 1,000 people.
Law enforcement experts credit the overall decline in crime to a variety
of factors, including a much-improved economy, harsher penalties for
offenders and an older general population. They also contend drug
arrests are up because police are more sensitive to them and want to
prevent other crimes related to illicit drug use.
Not A Complete Picture
Still, experts warn that the decline may not paint a complete picture
because many crimes are never tracked.
"The crime index doesn't account for all crimes ... But generally, it's
a good indicator of how much serious crime is out there that the police
have to investigate and invest their resources in," said David Olson, a
criminal justice professor at Loyola University in Chicago.
And just because crime rates are falling in general does not mean crime
is less of a problem in some specific areas, he said.
"For the people in Chicago that live in some of the most crimeprone
neighborhoods," Olson said, "the fact that crime went down in Chicago
doesn't mean squat: 'It may have gone down somewhere, but I sure ain't
seeing it.' "
Mirrors National Decline
Mirroring a national trend, Illinois' crime rate began to plummet in the
early 1990s and has been falling ever since.
The latest U.S. Justice Department statistics found a 15 percent drop in
violent crime last year, continuing a decline that began in 1994.
Illinois' rate in 2000 was lower than at any point since state police
began charting it in 1974.
Police agencies reported 546,167 crimes in 2000, down about 20 percent
from 680,113 crimes recorded in 1990. Meanwhile, the state's population
rose 8.5 percent during that time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Those two factors combined for a 26 percent drop in the state's crime
rate - the number of crimes reported for every 1,000 people - by the end
of the decade.
Statewide, the rate of violent crimes dropped more than 30 percent
during the 1990s, while the rate of property crimes declined about 25
percent. The state's murder rate dropped by about 30 percent, the arson
rate plunged 43 percent and the robbery rate was cut by 47 percent.
Similar Trends In Cities, Counties
Many of the state's 102 counties and its largest cities saw similar
trends.
Nearly half the counties saw their crime rates plummet between 1990 and
2000, while many others held relatively steady or saw increases tied to
shrinking populations.
Cook County had the highest crime rate in 1990, with more than 83 crimes
reported for every 1,000 people. Its 2000 rate dropped to fourth
statewide at 58 crimes per 1,000 people, a 30 percent decline.
Peoria County had the highest rate at nearly 71 crimes per 1,000 people
in 2000, up from 68 a decade earlier.
Of the state's 15 largest cities, only Peoria - with a 3.5 percent
increase - saw its crime rate rise. Chicago's rate dropped 32 percent to
fourth-highest among the largest cities behind Peoria, Springfield and
Rockford. The rate doesn't take into account temporary changes in
cities' populations, such as visitors and commuters.
Rapidly growing Naperville, in suburban Chicago, saw the number of
crimes drop 3 percent from 1990 to 2000, even as its population grew by
more than 50 percent. That cut the crime rate 36 percent, to less than
18 crimes per 1,000 people last year.
Naperville Police Chief David Dial credited a concentrated community
policing effort and a strong economy for his city's low crime rate.
"I think it's cause to celebrate," Dial said. "We hope we can keep it up
for the next decade."
Drug Arrests Shoot Up
The number of drug arrests statewide jumped from 45,880 in 1990 to
115,948 in 2000, a 152 percent increase. The rate of drug arrests per
1,000 Illinoisans climbed 132 percent in that time.
Although critics contend drug arrests absorb police resources and fill
prisons over relatively minor offenses, Olson said arresting drug
offenders keeps them from committing other crimes.
Dial said Naperville has seen a huge influx of so-called club drugs such
as Ecstasy in recent years. And he expects drug arrests to continue
climbing as those drugs become more popular among teen-agers, a growing
age group in the suburbs.
Plus, there likely will be more police officers than before to handle
the increase. The number of sworn law enforcement officers in Illinois
rose from 34,416 in 1990 to 41,170 in 2000, a nearly 20 percent
increase.
Don't Represent Reality
Experts say the downward trend in crime doesn't necessarily mean
Illinois has little crime to worry about, since some studies suggest a
vast number of crimes go unreported.
And even the reported statistics likely do not represent reality.
The 2000 figures show large changes from the 1999 statistics, which
based the crime rate on population estimates. State Police spokesman
Capt. Dave Sanders said the department uses the best figures available,
but he acknowledged census-year data from 1990 and 2000 is likely to be
more reliable. Crime rates in area's counties, 1990-2000 These charts
show the number and rate of serious crimes reported to police in 1990
and 2000 in four area counties, according to Illinois State Police
statistics.
The chart shows the county's population, the number of crimes reported
to police, the number of crimes reported per 1,000 residents and how
that rate ranks among the counties. Numbers in the gray bars are from
the year 1900; numbers in white are from 2000.
The crimes counted in the state police survey of law enforcement
agencies were murder, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, auto theft and
arson. The 2000 figures come from a report released on Sunday by the
state police. The 1990 figures were taken from a 1990 edition of the
same report.
County, 2000 Pop, 2000Crime, Rate, Rank, - County, 1990 Pop, 1990Crime,
Rate, Rank
Cook 5,376,741 313,896 58.4 4 Cook 5,105,067 426,176 83.5 1
DuPage 904,161 21,057 23.3 51 DuPage 781,666 30,551 39.1 21
Kane 404,119 15,814 39.1 17 Kane 317,471 15,577 49.1 12
McHenry 260,077 5,571 21.4 56 McHenry 183,241 5,072 27.7 37
Crime rates in Illinois biggest cities, 1990-2000 These charts show the
number and rate of serious crimes reported to police in 1990 and 2000 in
some of northern Illinois' most populated cities, according to Illinois
State Police statistics.
Each chart shows the city's population, the number of crimes reported to
police, the number of crimes reported per 1,000 residents and how that
rate ranks among the 15 largest cities. Numbers in the gray bars are
from the year 1900; numbers in white are from 2000.
The crimes counted in the state police survey of law enforcement
agencies were murder, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, auto theft and
arson. The 2000 figures come from a report released on Sunday by the
state police. The 1990 figures were taken from a 1990 edition of the
same report.
City, 2000 pop, 2000 crime, Rate, Rank - City, 1990 pop, 1990 crime,
Rate, Rank
Chicago 2,896,016 219,778 75.9 4 Chicago 2,783,726 313,026 112.4 1
Rockford 150,115 12,593 83.9 2 Rockford 139,426 13,898 99.7 2
Aurora 142,990 6,024 42.1 10 Aurora 99,581 6,775 68.0 9
Naperville 128,358 2,302 17.9 15 Naperville 85,351 2,397 28.1 15
Elgin 94,487 2,922 30.9 13 Elgin 77,010 4,343 56.4 11
Schaumburg 75,386 3,359 44.6 9 Schaumburg 68,586 3,646 53.2 12
SPECIAL SECTION: Examine the latest state crime statistics for your
county, city or town ... http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/crime/
SPRINGFIELD - The state's crime rate plunged during the 1990s, a decade
that also saw drug arrests jump dramatically and Chicago drop out of the
top spot for crime rates in major Illinois cities.
Illinois' crime rate dropped about 26 percent in the decade that ended
in 2000, according to Illinois State Police statistics. Last year,
Illinoisans reported just less than 44 crimes per 1,000 people, while
the 1990 rate was nearly 60 crimes per 1,000.
The statistics just for 2000, released today by the state police, show
the crime rate dropped 4.5 percent from 1999. That includes a drop in
all eight categories of violent and property crime tracked by the annual
report.
Over the last decade, though, the number of drug arrests soared. The
rate of arrests for drug offenses has more than doubled since 1990, to
9.3 for every 1,000 people.
Law enforcement experts credit the overall decline in crime to a variety
of factors, including a much-improved economy, harsher penalties for
offenders and an older general population. They also contend drug
arrests are up because police are more sensitive to them and want to
prevent other crimes related to illicit drug use.
Not A Complete Picture
Still, experts warn that the decline may not paint a complete picture
because many crimes are never tracked.
"The crime index doesn't account for all crimes ... But generally, it's
a good indicator of how much serious crime is out there that the police
have to investigate and invest their resources in," said David Olson, a
criminal justice professor at Loyola University in Chicago.
And just because crime rates are falling in general does not mean crime
is less of a problem in some specific areas, he said.
"For the people in Chicago that live in some of the most crimeprone
neighborhoods," Olson said, "the fact that crime went down in Chicago
doesn't mean squat: 'It may have gone down somewhere, but I sure ain't
seeing it.' "
Mirrors National Decline
Mirroring a national trend, Illinois' crime rate began to plummet in the
early 1990s and has been falling ever since.
The latest U.S. Justice Department statistics found a 15 percent drop in
violent crime last year, continuing a decline that began in 1994.
Illinois' rate in 2000 was lower than at any point since state police
began charting it in 1974.
Police agencies reported 546,167 crimes in 2000, down about 20 percent
from 680,113 crimes recorded in 1990. Meanwhile, the state's population
rose 8.5 percent during that time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Those two factors combined for a 26 percent drop in the state's crime
rate - the number of crimes reported for every 1,000 people - by the end
of the decade.
Statewide, the rate of violent crimes dropped more than 30 percent
during the 1990s, while the rate of property crimes declined about 25
percent. The state's murder rate dropped by about 30 percent, the arson
rate plunged 43 percent and the robbery rate was cut by 47 percent.
Similar Trends In Cities, Counties
Many of the state's 102 counties and its largest cities saw similar
trends.
Nearly half the counties saw their crime rates plummet between 1990 and
2000, while many others held relatively steady or saw increases tied to
shrinking populations.
Cook County had the highest crime rate in 1990, with more than 83 crimes
reported for every 1,000 people. Its 2000 rate dropped to fourth
statewide at 58 crimes per 1,000 people, a 30 percent decline.
Peoria County had the highest rate at nearly 71 crimes per 1,000 people
in 2000, up from 68 a decade earlier.
Of the state's 15 largest cities, only Peoria - with a 3.5 percent
increase - saw its crime rate rise. Chicago's rate dropped 32 percent to
fourth-highest among the largest cities behind Peoria, Springfield and
Rockford. The rate doesn't take into account temporary changes in
cities' populations, such as visitors and commuters.
Rapidly growing Naperville, in suburban Chicago, saw the number of
crimes drop 3 percent from 1990 to 2000, even as its population grew by
more than 50 percent. That cut the crime rate 36 percent, to less than
18 crimes per 1,000 people last year.
Naperville Police Chief David Dial credited a concentrated community
policing effort and a strong economy for his city's low crime rate.
"I think it's cause to celebrate," Dial said. "We hope we can keep it up
for the next decade."
Drug Arrests Shoot Up
The number of drug arrests statewide jumped from 45,880 in 1990 to
115,948 in 2000, a 152 percent increase. The rate of drug arrests per
1,000 Illinoisans climbed 132 percent in that time.
Although critics contend drug arrests absorb police resources and fill
prisons over relatively minor offenses, Olson said arresting drug
offenders keeps them from committing other crimes.
Dial said Naperville has seen a huge influx of so-called club drugs such
as Ecstasy in recent years. And he expects drug arrests to continue
climbing as those drugs become more popular among teen-agers, a growing
age group in the suburbs.
Plus, there likely will be more police officers than before to handle
the increase. The number of sworn law enforcement officers in Illinois
rose from 34,416 in 1990 to 41,170 in 2000, a nearly 20 percent
increase.
Don't Represent Reality
Experts say the downward trend in crime doesn't necessarily mean
Illinois has little crime to worry about, since some studies suggest a
vast number of crimes go unreported.
And even the reported statistics likely do not represent reality.
The 2000 figures show large changes from the 1999 statistics, which
based the crime rate on population estimates. State Police spokesman
Capt. Dave Sanders said the department uses the best figures available,
but he acknowledged census-year data from 1990 and 2000 is likely to be
more reliable. Crime rates in area's counties, 1990-2000 These charts
show the number and rate of serious crimes reported to police in 1990
and 2000 in four area counties, according to Illinois State Police
statistics.
The chart shows the county's population, the number of crimes reported
to police, the number of crimes reported per 1,000 residents and how
that rate ranks among the counties. Numbers in the gray bars are from
the year 1900; numbers in white are from 2000.
The crimes counted in the state police survey of law enforcement
agencies were murder, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, auto theft and
arson. The 2000 figures come from a report released on Sunday by the
state police. The 1990 figures were taken from a 1990 edition of the
same report.
County, 2000 Pop, 2000Crime, Rate, Rank, - County, 1990 Pop, 1990Crime,
Rate, Rank
Cook 5,376,741 313,896 58.4 4 Cook 5,105,067 426,176 83.5 1
DuPage 904,161 21,057 23.3 51 DuPage 781,666 30,551 39.1 21
Kane 404,119 15,814 39.1 17 Kane 317,471 15,577 49.1 12
McHenry 260,077 5,571 21.4 56 McHenry 183,241 5,072 27.7 37
Crime rates in Illinois biggest cities, 1990-2000 These charts show the
number and rate of serious crimes reported to police in 1990 and 2000 in
some of northern Illinois' most populated cities, according to Illinois
State Police statistics.
Each chart shows the city's population, the number of crimes reported to
police, the number of crimes reported per 1,000 residents and how that
rate ranks among the 15 largest cities. Numbers in the gray bars are
from the year 1900; numbers in white are from 2000.
The crimes counted in the state police survey of law enforcement
agencies were murder, rape, robbery, assault, larceny, auto theft and
arson. The 2000 figures come from a report released on Sunday by the
state police. The 1990 figures were taken from a 1990 edition of the
same report.
City, 2000 pop, 2000 crime, Rate, Rank - City, 1990 pop, 1990 crime,
Rate, Rank
Chicago 2,896,016 219,778 75.9 4 Chicago 2,783,726 313,026 112.4 1
Rockford 150,115 12,593 83.9 2 Rockford 139,426 13,898 99.7 2
Aurora 142,990 6,024 42.1 10 Aurora 99,581 6,775 68.0 9
Naperville 128,358 2,302 17.9 15 Naperville 85,351 2,397 28.1 15
Elgin 94,487 2,922 30.9 13 Elgin 77,010 4,343 56.4 11
Schaumburg 75,386 3,359 44.6 9 Schaumburg 68,586 3,646 53.2 12
SPECIAL SECTION: Examine the latest state crime statistics for your
county, city or town ... http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/crime/
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