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Offense Category

Criminal Damage and Trespass to Property


What is it?

Damaging or entering the property of another person without permission.

What does our data show?

Trespassing is a misdemeanor in most cases, except those involving nuclear facilities or sports, theater or entertainment venues. Misdemeanor criminal trespass cases have dropped by 70% since 2005, but the small number of felony cases has remained steady. Trespassing differs from burglary in that it does not involve theft or another felony.

Charges

Detailed charts are unavailable for charges with fewer than 750 cases.

  • Felony
  • Misdemeanor
Jan 2000Jan 2004Jan 2008Jan 2012Jan 20160800160024003200

Race and Gender

This data shows that Black people make up the vast majority of criminal defendants charged in Cook County. Of the more than 3 million criminal cases filed in Cook County between 2000 and 2018, more than 61% were filed against Black people, even though Black people only make up 23% of the county’s population.

Research suggests the disparity has more to do with social inequity than an inherent link between race and criminality. Concentrated poverty in urban areas increases the likelihood of certain violent and property crimes, particularly in under-resourced, racially segregated communities. Black people are the most racially isolated group in Cook County and tend to live in communities where intergenerational poverty and violence, abetted by segregation, disinvestment, and institutionalized racism, have limited opportunities for many.

The disparities in charges also reflect inequities and racial bias in policing. Black people are disproportionately targeted for arrest. These numbers reflect overall trends seen in our era of mass incarceration, driven especially by law enforcement strategies such as Broken Windows policing, stop and frisk, disproportionate stops of Black drivers, and disparities in drug arrests.

Charges by Race and Ethnicity

Charges by race and ethnicity, men and women (384,482).

Black263,857 cases68.63%

Charges by race and ethnicity, men only (321,428).

Black220,923 cases68.73%

Charges by race and ethnicity, women only (58,009).

Black42,694 cases73.60%

Charges by Gender

Charges by gender, all races and ethnicities (384,482).

Male321,428 cases83.60%

Charges by gender, Black alone (263,857).

Male220,923 cases83.73%

Charges by gender, white alone (61,913).

Male51,893 cases83.82%

Charges by gender, Latinx alone (35,047).

Male32,483 cases92.68%

Charges by gender, other or unknown race or ethnicity (23,665).

Male16,129 cases68.16%

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2016