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Community: Crime Rates Indicator DuPage County is a safe community, but issues that lead to crime -- such as substance abuse -- must continue to be monitored.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR The level of crime in a community is important because it represents the safety concerns of the community. One indicator that allows comparisons of the prevalence of crime over time and across different localities is the crime rate. The crime rate presented here reflects the number of crimes as measured by the Crime Index per 1,000 population. The Crime Index is comprised of violent crimes, including murder, criminal sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault, and property crimes, including burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. OBSERVATIONS Crime rates in DuPage County are well below Illinois rates, and have remained fairly steady—in the range of 24 to 26 crimes per 1,000 residents— since 1999. For the state of Illinois overall, crime has steadily declined over the past four years. The majority of crimes in DuPage County are thefts or burglaries. Of 22,493 reported criminal offenses in 2002, 17,667 were thefts and 2,462 were burglaries. The homicide level is quite low—only 10 murders were committed in 2002. TAPESTRYMany community factors can positively or negatively affect the prevalence of crime. Two such factors are economic conditions and substance abuse. Difficult economic times contribute to increased crime because when people are out of work, the associated loss of income can create stress that leads to substance abuse, family violence, or to theft as a means of meeting basic financial needs. Substance abuse is considered one of the major causes of crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, alcohol or drug abuse is involved in 35 percent of violent crimes. Thus it seems reasonable to expect that societal efforts to control substance abuse and aid those most affected by economic troubles will help decrease crime. COMMENTARY by Steve Neubauer, Chief of Police, Elmhurst Police Department “DuPage County is a very safe community and continues to enjoy a low crime rate. However, drug use and crimes associated with drug use, along with domestic violence issues, continue to challenge the social health of our community.” HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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