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Violent Crime Trends in Kankakee: A Decade of Fluctuating Rates and Demographic Shifts
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
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Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Kankakee, Illinois, has witnessed significant fluctuations in violent crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of violent crimes in the city remained relatively stable, with a marginal decrease of 0.4%, from 245 to 244 incidents. However, this trend occurred against a backdrop of population decline, with the city's population decreasing by 6.3% from 32,130 in 2010 to 30,102 in 2020.
The murder rate in Kankakee has shown a concerning upward trend. The number of murders doubled from 4 in 2010 to 8 in 2020, resulting in an increase from 0.12 murders per 1,000 people to 0.27 per 1,000. Moreover, Kankakee's share of state murders rose from 0.67% to 0.81%, indicating that the city's murder rate grew faster than the state average. This trend suggests a worrying increase in lethal violence within the city relative to its population and the state as a whole.
Rape incidents in Kankakee have shown a decreasing trend. Reported rapes decreased by 45.2%, from 42 in 2010 to 23 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 people dropped from 1.31 to 0.76. However, the city's percentage of state rapes decreased from 2.46% to 0.67%, indicating that while rape incidents decreased in Kankakee, they did so at a slower rate compared to the state average. This suggests some improvement in sexual violence, but the city still faces challenges in this area.
Robbery cases in Kankakee have significantly decreased over the decade. The number of robberies dropped by 66.7%, from 99 in 2010 to 33 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 people fell from 3.08 to 1.10. The city's percentage of state robberies also decreased from 0.55% to 0.31%, indicating that Kankakee has made notable progress in reducing robbery incidents, outpacing the state's improvement rate.
Aggravated assault cases, however, have shown an upward trend. The number of aggravated assaults increased by 80%, from 100 in 2010 to 180 in 2020. The rate per 1,000 people rose from 3.11 to 5.98. The city's percentage of state aggravated assaults increased from 0.4% to 0.65%, suggesting that Kankakee is experiencing a faster rise in aggravated assaults compared to the state average. This trend is concerning and may indicate growing issues with non-lethal violence in the city.
The increase in violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults, coincides with a decrease in population density from 2,121 people per square mile in 2010 to 1,987 in 2020. This could suggest that as the population became less dense, social tensions or other factors may have contributed to increased violent confrontations.
Predictive models forecasting violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggest that if current trends continue, Kankakee may see a further increase in aggravated assaults and potentially murders, while robberies are likely to continue decreasing. The overall violent crime rate may stabilize or slightly increase, primarily driven by the rise in aggravated assaults.
In summary, Kankakee has experienced mixed trends in violent crime over the past decade. While there have been significant improvements in reducing robberies and rapes, the city faces growing challenges with aggravated assaults and an uptick in murders. These trends, coupled with the declining population, suggest a complex interplay of social and economic factors affecting public safety in the city. Moving forward, targeted interventions focusing on assault prevention and addressing the root causes of violent behavior may be crucial for improving the overall safety and well-being of Kankakee's residents.
