Chicago Crime Statistics in 2021
According to the City of Chicago Data Portal, 210,237 crimes were reported in Chicago in 2020. From arson and criminal damage to burglary and weapons violations, the Chicago Police Department has dealt with every type of case in all sorts of locations.
But what about 2021? How much has crime increased since the beginning of the year? Well, between January 1 and March 5, the City of Chicago has found that a total of 30,218 crimes have been reported in the city. That is already more than 14 percent of the total crimes in 2020.
As shown in the graphic above, few arrests this year have been made in comparison to cases where no arrests were made. Based on the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, 23,620 crimes, being much more than half of all the reported cases, were domestic-related.
Five Chicago community areas have exceeded or are approaching 1,000 reported crimes. Austin has shown the most with 1,726 cases, followed closely by South Shore with 1,149 cases, Near North Side with 945, North Lawndale with 940, and Auburn Gresham with 936. Edison Park, which holds a reputation for being one of the safest neighborhoods in Chicago has reported the least crimes with 39.
Of the 30,218 total crimes, battery was the most reported with 5,581 cases. These cases range from simple domestic battery to aggravated situations with dangerous weapons resulting in serious injuries. Human trafficking and non-criminal cases tie for only being reported once.
Unfortunately, the data only accounts for the first few months of 2021. Chicago residents have yet to see how much crime will occur this year. Will it be more 2020, or will the numbers decline?
