Chicago violent crime at decade low as arrest rates rise
Violent crime in Chicago fell to more than a decade low in 2025. It dropped across 88% of the city’s neighborhoods as arrests rose.
Violent crime in Chicago fell to more than a decade low in 2025, declining across nearly 9-in-10 neighborhoods as arrests rates continued to rise.
Total crime in the city fell from 257,558 in 2024 to 235,338 in 2025, marking two consecutive years of decline, Chicago Police Department data showed.
Violent crimes dropped from a peak of nearly 30,000 in 2023 to 22,760 last year – the fewest attacks reported in over a decade.
Nearly all categories of violent crime declined in 2025, with homicides, robberies and aggravated batteries falling to a decade low. Only criminal sexual assault increased, rising to a decade high.
This follows a general trend seen in U.S. cities nationwide, with most cities also reporting a steep drop in homicides and other forms of violent crime compared to 2024, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.
As crime fell citywide, arrests rate for total and violent crime rose. The arrest rate for total crime climbed from 13.8% to 15.8%. The arrest rate for violent crime also increased to 17.9%, the highest level since the pandemic.
The arrest rate for most violent crime also increased compared to 2024. The exceptions were homicides, with arrests dropping from 37% to 29%, and criminal sexual assaults, which fell from 4% to 2%.
A breakdown of the types of crime reported in 2025 shows cases of narcotics increased most compared to the previous year, followed by burglaries. Reports of criminal sexual assault, stalking and concealed carry violations all reached decade highs.
Reports of theft declined most in raw terms in 2025, followed by motor vehicle thefts. Cases of homicide, robbery, arson, offenses involving children and deceptive practices fell to decade lows.
The most common crimes reported were thefts, followed by batteries. Thefts accounted for nearly 1-in-4 crimes reported in 2025, with batteries accounting for nearly 1-in-5.
A look at crime by Chicago neighborhood showed the drop in cases was distributed across most of the city, with 88% of neighborhoods reporting fewer violent crimes and 89% reporting fewer crimes overall.
Four communities – Andersonville, Hyde Park, Jackson Park and Armor Square – saw total crime rise to decade highs. Andersonville also reported its highest level of violent crime during the decade.
Austin continued to lead Chicago’s communities in violent and total crime. The arrest rate for each reached its highest level since the onset of the pandemic.
About 71% of Chicago neighborhoods reported higher arrest rates for violent crime and 82% reported higher arrest rates for crime overall, compared to 2024.
While overall crime and violent crime dropped precipitously in 2025 across many of the nation’s largest cities, including Chicago, the drivers behind this decline remain in contention. Still, Chicagoans can feel good about fewer crimes and more arrests.