7 Chicago Areas with the Highest Rates of Assault and Battery

It’s no secret that Chicago has a serious problem with violent crimes, but certain neighborhoods have a history of being more dangerous than others.

This year, the city has witnessed a particularly high rate of assault and battery crimes, with a majority of these crimes concentrated in certain areas. In Illinois, assault is considered to be behavior that creates the threat or fear of bodily harm or unwanted physical contact, while battery is conduct that actually causes bodily harm or unwanted physical contact.

We’ve listed the seven Chicago neighborhoods with the highest rates of assault and battery arrests from July 2014 to July 2015 below.

Austin. The West Side neighborhood of Austin has been called Chicago’s deadliest neighborhood by some local media outlets—and for good reason. There have been nearly 600 incidents of assault and battery crimes in Austin within the last year alone. Austin is also the largest of the city’s officially defined neighborhoods.

West Englewood. Southwest of the city lies Englewood, a neighborhood that has also been dubbed one of Chicago’s most dangerous areas. West Englewood in particular has had long-standing problems with violent crimes, and saw nearly 400 incidents this past year alone.

North Lawndale. North Lawndale is another West Side neighborhood, and is home to a notably significant number of individuals with criminal records. This year, there were more than 300 reported incidents of assault and battery in North Lawndale. Other common crimes in this neighborhood include criminal damage, drug crimes, and robbery.

Humboldt Park. This West Side neighborhood is known for its proud Puerto Rican community, though the neighborhood has become increasingly gentrified in recent years. Though crime is on the decline, the area remains one of the city’s most dangerous for assault and battery, with more than 300 incidents reported in the past 12 months.

South Shore. This lakefront community boasts former residents such as Michelle Obama and Kanye West. Though the neighborhood offers beaches and beautiful architecture, it also sees a fair amount of crime and gang-related activity. Within the last year, there were a little over 300 reported incidents of assault and battery in South Shore.

Auburn Gresham. Auburn Gresham is a south side neighborhood that sees its fair share of violent, property, and quality of life crimes. There were more than 250 reports of assault and battery crimes in Auburn Gresham in the July 2014 – July 2015 period.

Greater Grand Crossing. This neighborhood falls eight miles south of the Loop, and is made up of 99 percent African Americans. Greater Grand Crossing saw nearly as many as assault and battery incidents last year as Auburn Gresham.

If You Have Been Arrested or Charged with Assault and Battery in Chicago

As local law enforcement attention turns to these high crime-rate neighborhoods, arrests for assault and battery have become increasingly common. Unfortunately, in law officers’ eagerness to crack down on these crimes, wrongful arrests are not unheard of.

If you have been arrested or charged with assault and battery in Chicago, it’s critical to contact an experienced Chicago assault and battery attorney as soon as possible. The penalties for assault and battery crimes may include prison sentences, heavy fines, and a lifelong criminal record. A knowledgeable criminal attorney may be able to help you build a strong defense to protect your rights and avoid tough consequences to your freedom, future, and reputation.

About the Author:

Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, Murder, and drug crimes.