Old Chicago Arrest Records for Prostitution: A Historical Perspective

The city of Chicago has a long history of recording arrest records, with various categories and definitions changing over time. One such category is that of prostitution-related arrests, which are often included under the broader umbrella of sex offenses.

Prior to 2013, the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program categorized rape as a 'violent crime.' However, due to changes in the definition of rape, the Violent Crime Index was no longer available. Instead, the UCR Program introduced a new category called 'violent crimes,' which includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Interestingly, estimates for the Violent Crime Index (which included forcible rape) are not shown after 2012 due to incompatibility with prior years' data. Additionally, national estimates for rape and sex offenses are unavailable after 2012 due to differences in agency reporting practices.

The new definition of rape, introduced by the FBI in 2013, includes penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, as well as oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without consent. This change was made to better reflect the scope and severity of sexual assault.

It's also important to note that property crime, including burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, is tracked separately from violent crime.

The following table provides an estimated number of arrests by offense and age group for 2020:

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By examining these historical arrest records, we can gain a better understanding of the evolution of sex offenses and prostitution-related arrests in Chicago over time.

Old chicago arrest records for prostitution