NCJ Number
204987
Date Published
September 2000
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This document discusses crime trends, particularly regarding gangs, guns, and drugs, in the State of Illinois in 2000.
Abstract
The good news is that reported crime is down, and that drug use, firearm injuries and deaths, and street gang activity have seen recent declines. The bad news is that the battles with these problems have led to significant growth in probation, jail, and prison caseloads. Offenders and victims need more services from the criminal justice system. Reported crime is not down everywhere in the State. Some communities have seen increases or changes in the nature of their crime problems. The court system has seen steady growth in terms of juvenile delinquency petition filings and adult felony case filings. The total adult probation caseload has steadily increased over the years. Adult felony probation caseloads are consistent between urban, collar, and rural counties. Caseload growth also is apparent in the juvenile court system. Over the long term, the average jail population reflects steady growth. The proportion of felons sentenced to prison over the past three decades increased slowly but steadily while the proportion sentenced to probation has decreased. Admissions to drug treatment -- for heroin, cocaine, and marijuana -- have increased dramatically. Between 1990 and 1999, the prison population increased by more than 17,000 inmates, or 62 percent. A relatively small but quickly increasing factor in the prison population are the numbers of females incarcerated. During fiscal year 1996, more than $4.2 billion was spent by State and local units of government for the operation of the justice system. Corrections expenditures rose to more than 28 percent of expenditures in 1996. 2 appendices