Chicago Crime Rate Continues To Decline

For the 22nd consecutive month, the crime rate in Chicago declined in almost every major category.  There is an outside chance that 2010 could see the lowest murder rate in modern history.  From January to October of this year, there had been 379 murders.  This is 9 fewer than the same time period in 2009.  The 2010 murder rate is keeping pace with the 2007 murder rate.  In 2007, there were 435 murders.  This was the lowest figure since 1965.  If the murder rate stays low in November and December, the 2010 figures could beat the 2007 figures.  In 1965 there were only 395 murders.  It is highly unlikely that 2010's figures will beat the 1965 numbers.  These new figures reflect a continuing steady decline in the murder rate in the past 15 years.  There was a huge jump in the murder rate in the early 90's, but there have not been more than 500 murders in the past six years.  Roughly 55 percent of murders were gang related.  This is why the Chicago Police have been focusing their attention on dealing with gangs.  The number of criminal sexual assaults were down 7.6 percent, robberies were down 11.6 percent and aggravated assaults dropped 12.2 percent.  

The good news about the murder rate doesn't change the fact that out of all major U.S. cities, Chicago has the second highest per capita murder rate.  In 2009, there were 16 murders per 100,000 people.  Los Angeles had 8 out of 100,000 and New York had fewer than six out of 100,000.  Philadelphia is in first place.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.