The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Illinois, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Illinois had 36,149 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 287.3 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Illinois's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Illinois fell by 17.4%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Illinois recorded 982 murders, equating to a rate of 7.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Illinois has a higher murder rate compared to the country overall.
Illinois had 211,721 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1682.7 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Illinois has a lower property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Illinois's property crime rate rise by 19.8%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Illinois had 35,431 car thefts, marking a 61.9% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Illinois's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Illinois, which was 41 in 2022, down from 55 in 2021. While we don't have a national comparison for this score, the decrease suggests an overall improvement in the state's crime situation.
Illinois presents a mixed picture when compared to national crime trends. The state has lower rates of violent crime and lower rates of property crime than the national average. However, it faces challenges with a murder rate, a more significant change in car thefts compared to national trends.
Note that various factors such as changes in reporting, law enforcement tactics, and socioeconomic shifts can impact crime statistics. Hence, these figures should be interpreted within a wider context when evaluating the crime scenario in Illinois.