Illinois Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
4,476,055
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
399.1
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
282,847
6% of total
Year-over-Year
-47.2%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
282,847
Long Gun
139,696
Permit Checks
4,038,067
In 2022, Illinois recorded 4,476,055 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 399.1 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 6% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 3%. Background checks decreased 47.2% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2,831,447 | — |
| 2019 | 4,949,570 | +74.8% |
| 2020 | 7,455,065 | +50.6% |
| 2021 | 8,474,505 | +13.7% |
| 2022 | 4,476,055 | -47.2% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Illinois State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
29,828
2023
Per 100K Residents
266
imprisonment rate
Admissions
17,900
2023
Releases
17,711
2023
Male Prisoners
28,295
95% of total
Female Prisoners
1,533
5% of total
Private Prisons
1.2%
of total prison pop
Illinois Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 15.2% of Illinois's population but 54.2% of the prison population (3.6x overrepresented). White residents are 60.3% of the population but 32.3% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Illinois had a total prison population of 29,828 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 266 per 100,000 residents. There were 17,900 new admissions and 17,711 releases. 1.2% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Illinois County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 21 counties in Illinois.
Total Jail Population
7,943
2024
Avg Jail Rate
367
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
87,145
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,943 | 367 | 87,145 | N/A | 21 |
| 2023 | 9,671 | 224 | 125,303 | 90% | 36 |
| 2022 | 10,909 | 276 | 114,328 | 86% | 25 |
| 2021 | 12,554 | 281 | 125,678 | 88% | 33 |
| 2020 | 11,601 | 255 | 138,124 | 87% | 36 |
| 2019 | 16,088 | 332 | 254,497 | 78% | 102 |
| 2018 | 17,190 | 333 | 255,071 | 78% | 102 |
| 2017 | 17,493 | 319 | 244,739 | 78% | 102 |
| 2016 | 18,462 | 296 | 286,390 | 75% | 102 |
| 2015 | 18,785 | 285 | 322,022 | 77% | 102 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Illinois's 21 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 7,943 with an average county jail rate of 367 per 100,000 residents. A total of 87,145 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Illinois Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 101 counties in Illinois. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
11,043
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
6,768
61% of total
Suicide Deaths
4,180
38% of total
Rate per 100K
12.5
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
24
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Illinois's 101 counties reported a combined 11,043 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 12.5 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 6,768 (61%) were homicides and 4,180 (38%) were suicides. There were 24 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.