As 2023 crime hits post-covid record, what’s next for Chicago?
Posted on by steveba2103
| As 2023 crime hits post-covid record, what’s next for Chicago? Anyway you cut it, the chances of Chicagoans getting a break from crime isn’t very good. This year the city will hit a post-covid record for major crimes committed, while the ongoing trend of emptier jails continues as no-cash bail takes full hold. And knowing how Chicago voted for mayor earlier this year, Kim Foxx’s replacement as Cook County State’s Attorney could be even more radical. Those factors, and the six facts below, can guide expectations for crime in 2024: 1. Chicagoans will be victims of nearly 80,000 major crimes in 2023. That’s about 18 percent over last year. It’s also 29,000 more crimes than in 2019 – an increase of nearly 60 percent. |
| 2. Robberies, car thefts are driving 2023’s record crimes. Motor vehicle thefts still account for a vast majority of the increase in crimes over last year, with Chicagoans losing more than 25,000 cars to theft so far. That’s 56 percent more YTD than in 2022. Robberies are next, up 25 percent compared to last year. Theft is still up 5 percent and aggravated battery is up 4 percent. Only homicides have seen a decrease, down 11 percent compared to 2022. 3. Recent monthly crime totals have plateaued near 2022’s max. Chicago’s 2023 monthly crime totals were running far higher versus 2022 for most of the year. That changed in the second half of the year, with total crimes now averaging about 7,000 per month for both 2022 and 2023. |
| 4. Robberies continue to soar past their 2019, 2022 levels. Chicago’s criminals began a robbery-spree in June of this year that shows no sign of ending. Robberies have jumped more than 50 percent between June and October, with over 1,200 now happening every month. |
| 5. Chicago’s homicides are down in 2023, but they are down in other big cities, too. Homicide is the only major crime to significantly decline this year. Through the end of October, murders are down 12 percent compared to 2022. Other major cities have seen murders drop more than that. Los Angeles homicides are down 19 percent so far this year. Philadelphia’s are down 20%. Houston’s are down 22 percent. Only New York is down a similar 11 percent. 6. Cook County’s jail population has been cut in half over the last decade. 2013 marked a near-peak in the number of inmates in Cook County jails.Since then, the number of inmates has collapsed by more than half, reaching just 4,817 on Nov. 13, 2023. That’s the lowest number of people in jail in 40 years (excluding covid-impacted 2020). Since no-cash-bail went into effect on September 17th, the jail population has fallen 10 percent, to 4,817 from 5,419. |
| There’s little good news and no real positive action from Chicago’s leadership on crime. A continuing spike in crime victims should mean a change in approach, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans are all still dedicated to decriminalization and decarceration. If nothing changes, Chicago’s 2024 could end up as bad as 2023 – with all the misery that entails. All Illinoisans should know the facts about Chicago crime. Share this piece with others and follow us on Instagram to learn more. |
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