FBI Crime Report 2020: See Trends In Illinois

ILLINOIS —Violent crimes increased in Illinois last year, while property crimes decreased, according to data released by the FBI in its 2020 uniform crime report.

The FBI estimated statewide crime statistics based on reports from 667 of the state’s 935 law enforcement agencies.

Federal law enforcement officials urged caution about reading too much into local crime data, however. Lists comparing cities and counties "provide no insight into the numerous variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area or region," the FBI said in a statement.

“Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents,” the statement continued. “Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.”

The data shows violent crime went up in Illinois from 2019 to 2020, rising from 415.3 crimes reported per 100,000 residents to 425.9 — an increase of about 2.6 percent. Property crime, however, went down during the same period, falling from 2130.6 reported per 100,000 residents to 1958.2 — a decrease of about 8.1 percent.

Nationwide, the FBI reported an increase in violent crime for the first time in four years. The number of property crimes reported nationally dropped for the 18th year in a row.

Nationally, violent crime was up 5.2 percent in 2020 from the 2019 number, the FBI said in a news release. Violent crimes are labeled as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crimes are listed as arson, burglary, larceny theft and motor vehicle theft.

Among violent crimes, murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports saw the sharpest one-year uptick from 2019 to 2020, at 29.4 percent, the FBI said.

Property crimes — including burglaries, vehicle thefts and arson — dropped 8.1 percent from 2019 to 2020, the FBI data shows.

Illinois' violent crime rate was about 6.8 percent higher than the national average, while its property crime rate was about 25.6 percent higher.