Chicago Crime Rate Continues to Drop

Chicago's crime rate continued to decline in April.  This decline marks the 28th consecutive monthly decline, according to the Chicago Police Department.  Last year's murder rate was the lowest in Chicago since 1965.  The current figures released by the Chicago Police Department indicate that the murder rate in 2011 may be even lower than last year.  There have been 17 fewer murders so far this year than during the same period of time in 2010.  This represents a decline of 14.2 percent from 2010.  In addition, Aggravated Batteries were down 17.8 percent, Aggravated Assaults declined by about the same percentage and Robberies and Sexual Assaults also decreased sharply.  All property crimes were lower, except for vehicle thefts which actually increased by 20 percent.  

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.

Steady Decrease In City Crime Rate Continues

The overall crime rate in the City of Chicago dropped for the 25th consecutive month.  Compared to January of 2010 the overall crime rate decreased by 10.6%.  In 2010, the city had the fewest number of murders since 1965.  However, the number of murders in January of 2011 were more than in January of 2010.  In January of 2010 there were 22 murders and in January of 2011 there were 28 murders.  Every other category of violent crime decreased by double digits.  Ciminal Sexual Assaults decreased 13 percent, Aggravated Assaults dropped 11.3%, Aggravated Batteries dropped 10.1%, and Robberies dropped 10.4%.  Every category of property crimes, except car thefts, also had a substantial drop.  Car thefts were actually up by 21.8%.  General theft dropped 20.7%, Burglary dropped 6% and Arsons dropped 4.7%.  

Chicago Police Superintendent, Jody Weis indicated that police will continue to focus and guns and gangs saying that the majority violent crimes are caused by illegal guns.

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.

Kane County Files Civil Suit Against Elgin Gang Members

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office has filed a civil lawsuit against 79 members of an Elgin street gang.  The lawsuit is requesting that an injunction is granted prohibiting the gang members from associating with or contacting other gang members.  The lawsuit was filed on September 8 and most defendants have been personally served with the lawsuit.  If the injunction is granted, if gang members are caught associating with other gang members, they risk being arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.  Once they are placed under arrest they can be searched and other charges may develop if something illegal is found on them.  They also will face the consequences of a misdemeanor conviction which could carry a jail sentence of up to one year in jail.  The lawsuit also seeks unspecified monetary damages for the harm caused by the gang activity.  The lawsuit specifically refers to eight specific crimes that were committed between 1998 and 2008 including two murders, aggravated batteries with firearms, aggravated unlawful use of weapons by felons, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated batteries.  

DuPage County has filed four similar lawsuits involving gangs operating in Assison and West Chicago and Boone County has also filed a similar lawsuit.

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.

Overall City Crime Rate Drops But Vehicle Thefts Up

The Chicago Police have announced that the overall crime rate dropped 4.5% from January to September when compared to the same time period as last year.  However, vehicle thefts were up 22.3% during the same time period.  The drop in the crime rate is the 21st consecutive monthly drop.  The number of murders declined by 2.3 percent.  The murder rate had slightly increased in August of this year.  At the current rate, Chicago stands to equal the 2007 murder rate, which was the lowest since 1965.  Violent crime was down 11 percent, aggravated batteries declined 7.7 percent.  Robberies and aggravated assaults also showed major declines and criminal sexual assaults were down more than 9 percent.

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.

Chicago Crime Rate Drops Again

The Chicago Police are reporting that the crime rate in Chicago has dropped again.  Overall, crime is down 6.9 percent.  This is the 16th consecutive year that the crime rate has dropped in Chicago.  However, murders and vehicle thefts increased over last year.  Murders increased 8 percent from January 1 to April 30 of this year.  There have been a total of 127 murders, which is three more than this time last year.  The vast majority of murders involved the use of guns.  All the more reason that the elimination of guns from the streets will lead to the reduction of crime.  Criminal sexual assaults, robberies, arson and aggravated batteries dropped anywhere from 5 to 20 percent.  

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.

Numbers Point to Increase in Violent Crime in Chicago

Statistics released by the Chicago Police Department show a sharp increase in violent crime in Chicago. For the first seven months of 2008, murders rose by 18% over the same period in 2007 and 9% over the same period in 2006. From January to July of 2008, 291 people were killed. From January to July of 2007, 246 people were killed and in 2006, 266 people were killed. If these trends continue for the rest of 2008, Chicago would finish with more than 500 murders for the first time since 2003. In 2003, Chicago had more than 600 murders. Another troubling statistic is the rise in the number of Aggravated Batteries with a Firearm. This number has historically been another marker of increased violence. For the first seven months of 2008, a total of 1,153 of such incidents have been reported compared with 245 for the same period the year before.

Police officials attribute the increase in murders and violence to increased gang activity in the city. Chicago Police have increased their attention against gangs by going after gang hierarchies. The result has been a decrease in the number of arrests overall. These numbers call into question the current police tactics.

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.