Juvenile Justice System and Risk Factor Data - Illinois Criminal ...

Poverty
In calendar year 2007, 524,318 youth 17 years of age and younger were considered to be living
in poverty, a rate of 16,389 for every 100,000 youth under the age of 18. This is an 8 percent rate
increase from calendar year 2002.
Temporary assistance to needy families
In fiscal year 2007, an average of 70,132 Illinois youth per month were in families that received
temporary assistance, a rate of 2,192 for every 100,000 youth ages 0 to 17. This is a 33 percent
decrease in the rate from fiscal year 2002, although these decreases are largely attributed to time
restrictions on TANF benefits, and are not necessarily a reflection of genuine need.
Social context
Domestic violence
In calendar year 2007, 115,006 domestic violence offense incidents were reported to Illinois
State Police (ISP), a rate of 895 for every 100,000 persons in the general population. This is an
12 percent rate decrease from calendar year 2002.
Abuse and neglect
In fiscal year 2007, 111,742 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported to the Illinois
Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). This represents a rate of 3,493 for every
100,000 youth under 18 years of age, and a 15 percent increase from fiscal year 2002. In fiscal
year 2007, 28,516 cases of child abuse and neglect, or 26 percent of all reported cases, were
verified by DCFS. This represents a rate of 891 for every 100,000 youth under 18 years of age,
and a 6 percent increase in the rate from fiscal year 2002.
Sexual abuse
In fiscal year 2007, 8,682 cases of sexual abuse of children were reported in Illinois to DCFS.
This represents a rate of 271 for every 100,000 youth under age 18, and an 8 percent rate
increase from fiscal year 2002. In fiscal year 2007, 2,480 cases of child sexual abuse, or 29
percent of all reported cases, were verified by DCFS. This represents a rate of 78 verified cases
for every 100,000 youth under the age of 18, and a 9 percent decrease in rate from fiscal year
2002.
Crimes against youth
In calendar year 2007, there were 34,092 criminal offenses against youth reported to ISP, a rate
of 265 for every 100,000 people in the general population and a 13 percent rate decrease from
calendar year 2002. Reporting of these data to ISP is voluntary; therefore, these data may be a
reflection of reporting practices rather than a true measure of the frequency of these incidents.
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