Illinois crime data law sparks debate over transparency, real solutions
[October 01, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois’ new crime data law is drawing mixed
reactions, with supporters calling it a step toward transparency while
critics question whether it will meaningfully reduce violence.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed House Bill 1710, requiring the
Illinois State Police to publish more detailed reports on homicides and
gun-related assaults.
“This is a monumental step toward bringing transparency and
accountability to homicide investigations across the state. Gun violence
devastates families and communities, and justice should never be reduced
to manipulated statistics,” stated Live Free Illinois, a social justice
non profit organization, on social media.
Backers argue the measure will help lawmakers and the public better
understand crime trends, but gun rights advocates see troubling motives
behind the bill.
John Boch, executive director of Guns Save Life, argued the measure
shows little real intent from lawmakers to confront Chicago’s crime
problem.
“I think it’s more likely to be used against the police, especially in
Chicago where maybe 10% to 15% of serious crimes are solved,” Boch said.
“For instance, 23% of homicides are charged in Chicago, 6% of shootings
lead to an arrest. That’s abysmally low, and that’s one of the reasons
there is so much crime up there—it’s essentially crime without
consequences. I think they’re looking to continue to defund the police
and delegitimize the police.”
Under the new law, the Illinois State Police will be required to submit
all homicide data to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information
Authority, which must then compile and publish the information on a
quarterly basis. As a result, gun-related homicides in the state will
become more visible to the public, researchers, and policymakers,
providing a clearer picture of firearm-related violence.
Boch added that the real driver of violence isn’t firearms but gangs.
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“It’s gang violence, not gun violence,” Boch said. “That’s a key
takeaway not a lot of people think about. It’s the gangs driving 90%
of the crime in Chicago.”
According to Former Lemont police chief Marc Maton, speaking on
behalf of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the new
reporting system will not change how local departments internally
track homicides but could make statewide information more useful to
researchers and policymakers. Maton explained the data will allow
officials to compare urban and rural areas and “get a handle on how
many unsolved homicides are out there.”
Asked whether HB 1710 could lead cities to impose tougher gun rules,
Boch said that scenario is unlikely.
“That’s not possible in Illinois,” Boch said. “The Concealed Carry
Act greatly curtailed the ability of cities to enact gun control
legislation after a short window. So it’s very unlikely to
happen—and if it did, it would probably be challenged in court
successfully in a fairly short period of time.”
Maton said his group is neutral on the new law after raising initial
concerns about how the data would be reported
“Our original concern was that the bill required local departments
to post data on their own websites, and most agencies don’t have a
webmaster or the ability to keep a site regularly updated,” said
Maton. “We weren’t opposed to the data itself, but we wanted to
ensure the state police handled collection and had a process in
place, especially since they had just reprogrammed their entire
reporting system.”
Maton said the law will not change how local departments record
homicides but will make statewide data more useful.
“There might be additional information now available to the state
and researchers as they add these categories,” Maton said.
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