Don't Call Joliet A Violent City Anymore: Mayor D'Arcy's Crime Stats Show Why

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy gave his first-ever State of the City speech, and the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce sponsored event drew 400 people to the second-level ballroom of the Joliet Renaissance Center to hear D'Arcy's message about Joliet's successes and the city's bright future.

"If I were asked to describe Joliet at this moment in time, I would say our community is experiencing its own Renaissance," D'Arcy told his crowd. "We are a city in the midst of major transformation—revitalizing neighborhoods, modernizing infrastructure, and embracing new economic opportunities.

"But just as important as these physical changes is the work we’ve done to rebuild relationships and turn the page to a new chapter in Joliet’s story. Over the past two years, we’ve made it a priority to reconnect with our regional partners, foster greater collaboration, and lead with transparency and accountability. These efforts are about more than politics—they are about restoring trust, renewing pride, and strengthening Joliet for the long term."

D'Arcy's PowerPoint presentation talked about Joliet's renewed commitment to forming partnerships and alliances with other government entities. The mayor revealed that Joliet's new business licenses, along with new housing starts, are on the rise.

Joliet's sales tax revenue is climbing, and the city is welcoming several new businesses as a result of its economic growth.

Joliet is also a much safer city these days, according to data revealed by D'Arcy. Violent crime across Joliet continues to drop, and the city of Joliet has had not one single murder so far in 2025, Mayor D'Arcy proclaimed.

"Public safety is one of our highest priorities—and I’m proud to say, our efforts are making a difference," D'Arcy remarked. "Over the past few years, Joliet has seen consistent declines in violent crime: down 2 percent in 2021, 14 percent in 2022, and another 16 percent in 2023.

"This year, we’ve continued that momentum. So far in 2025, Joliet has not had a single homicide. Aggravated battery reports are down 50 percent, aggravated discharges of a firearm are down 48 percent, and robberies have dropped 25 percent.

"Overall shootings have fallen by 46 percent compared to this time last year, and the Joliet Police Department has recovered 73 illegal firearms from our streets. This progress is no accident. It’s the result of focused, proactive policing—using data, technology, and community partnerships to address violent crime at its source."