Scott County Crime & Safety

Scott County, Illinois

Safety Score

89/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

Safe

Total Crime Rate

224.5

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

61.2

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

163.3

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

89/100

Higher = safer

State avg 70/100

State Safety Rank

#35

of 100 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Scott County, Illinois

Scott County remains significantly safer than average

Scott County reports a total crime rate of 224.5 per 100,000, nearly ten times lower than the national average of 2,385.5. Its safety score of 99.6 reflects a very secure environment for its residents. Local data from three agencies confirms that criminal activity is rare here.

Beating the Illinois state safety average

With a safety score of 99.6, Scott County ranks higher than the Illinois average of 98.7. Its crime rate of 224.5 is also well below the state's average of 835.0 per 100,000. This makes it one of the more secure rural counties in the state.

Safer than nearby Sangamon and Tazewell

Scott County is significantly more peaceful than Sangamon County, where the crime rate reaches 3,450.4. It also maintains a lower rate than Tazewell's 1,708.6 incidents per 100,000. These figures highlight Scott County as a regional pocket of high safety.

Low violent and property crime rates

Violent crime is infrequent at just 61.2 per 100,000, while property crime sits at 163.3. In practical terms, residents face very little risk of either theft or physical harm. The three local reporting agencies manage a very low volume of criminal cases.

Low risk requires simple home precautions

Because crime is rare, basic security habits like outdoor lighting go a long way in Scott County. While the property crime rate is low at 163.3, keeping valuables out of sight prevents opportunistic incidents. Maintaining these habits helps preserve the county's high safety score.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Scott County, IL?

Scott County has a total crime rate of 224.5 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (61.2 per 100K) and property crimes (163.3 per 100K).

Is Scott County, IL safe?

Scott County has a safety score of 89/100, rated "Safe". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #35 out of 100 counties in Illinois for safety (1 = safest).

How does Scott County crime compare to the Illinois average?

What types of crime are most common in Scott County?

How is crime data measured and reported for Scott County?

Crime data for Scott County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

Why is Scott County safer than the Illinois average?

Scott County has a safety score of 89/100, which is above the Illinois average of 70/100. Factors such as local law enforcement effectiveness, community programs, socioeconomic conditions, and population density all contribute to lower crime rates in certain counties.