Crime & Traffic

What does it mean to report a crime?

Reporting a crime means telling the police about a crime. This can be done by a victim, witness, or even the person who committed the crime. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook, commonly reported crimes include murder and manslaughter, rape, assault, domestic violence, robbery, larceny-theft, burglary, arson, and hate crimes.

How do you report a crime?

Emergencies: Call 911 in emergencies or if you need help right away. This ensures that emergency services can make it to you as quickly as possible.

Report a crime to law enforcement:

• Visit the Illinois State Police (ISP) website, select a zone, and find the contact details for that area. For example, if the incident happened in the Chicago region, click Zone 1 for contact details. If you want to stay anonymous when reporting a crime, report the crime to your local ISP patrol district.
• You can also report the crime by simply sending an email to [email protected].
• If you are located in the City of Chicago, you can also report crimes using the Chicago Police Department’s online reporting system.

Reporting to the Illinois Attorney General’s office: The AG’s office investigates civil and criminal matters across the state and works with local law enforcement to provide additional resources and expertise. Unlike local police who handle many types of crimes within their area, the AG’s office focuses on areas like victims' rights, consumer rights, and civil rights. Make sure the AG’s office handles your type of case, and be sure to report serious or urgent crimes to local police for immediate action. To file a complaint with the AG’s office, go to this link to find instructions on filing different types of complaints.

Report to online platforms: You can report a crime to online platforms like CrimeStoppers. You can call their general number at 1-800-222-TIPS to give a tip. You can also contact their local programs by locating the contact information here.

Report hate crimes: Find a list of resources for reporting hate crimes in this article.

When to report a crime?

It is best to report a crime as soon as possible, but you can file a report anytime. The more time passes, the harder it becomes to investigate the crime because witnesses or victims may forget what happened, the suspect may flee, or evidence may become contaminated or lost. Delayed reporting can also put the victims, witnesses, and the community in continued danger.

Statutes of Limitations

The statute of limitations (SOL) is the time limit for filing criminal charges, depending on how serious the crime is. In Illinois, this can range from 18 months for most misdemeanors to no time limit for serious felonies like murder and rape. If there is a time limit and it expires, the state may no longer be able to prosecute the crime. Statute of limitations rules can be complicated. If you have questions about how the statute of limitations applies to your situation, you should consult a lawyer.

What happens after a crime is reported?

Typically, after a crime is reported to local law enforcement, an officer is sent to the crime scene. The victim or witness may also be asked to go to the police station to make a report. After a report is made, a detective investigates the crime. Depending on the crime, the investigation phase may be short or extensive.

The investigation may show no crime was committed. In this case, although the State’s Attorney’s Office will not file a criminal charge, the victim may still be able to file a civil suit. If the investigation shows probable cause that a person committed a crime, law enforcement may arrest that person. Next, the State’s Attorney’s Office will file a criminal charge against the suspect.

How and when you report a crime can affect the response. Online reports might get an automated reply, but the actual response from law enforcement may take longer. Reporting a crime by phone may allow you to speak directly with a police officer who may provide immediate help. Remember, waiting too long to report a crime can slow down the response and investigation because evidence might be lost, the suspect might run away, or witnesses might be unavailable.

If someone is arrested for the crime, you can use the Illinois VINE system to check their custody status and sign up for notifications about their release. This service is free and confidential.

What else to know when reporting a crime?

It can be confusing and scary if you or someone you know has been involved in a crime. For many people, whether to report a crime is not a cut-and-dried decision. If you were a witness or victim of a crime, you may fear that someone will retaliate against you for reporting it to the police. Or, if the crime was committed by someone you know, you may desire to protect them. Despite this, it is always good to know some basic things when you report a crime so you can make the best choices for your situation.

Keep evidence 

Hold onto any evidence you have, like photos, videos, messages, or physical items. This evidence can help the police determine what happened as they investigate the situation.

Know your rights 

As a victim or witness, you have rights during the police investigation and court proceedings. For example, a victim of a violent crime can get up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave and get refunded for some out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical and relocation costs. Learn more about the rights of crime victims and witnesses here.

Language help

If you don’t speak English, free language services are available. Law enforcement typically does not allow family, friends, or bystanders to interpret to ensure accuracy, prevent conflicts of interest, and protect your privacy.

In Illinois, victims, regardless of immigration status, must receive free language assistance services when talking to law enforcement. Many police departments have officers who speak multiple languages or, they must contract with other qualified sources to provide translation or interpreter services. For example, the Chicago Police Department provides language assistance to people who speak no or limited English.

Reporting a crime as an immigrant or undocumented person

Immigrants and undocumented persons who are victims of crimes can face special challenges. Common ones include fear of being deported, effects on their immigration status, language barriers, and cultural differences. You have the right to remain silent if a police officer or official asks you about your immigration status. There are also laws in place in the US to make sure that your immigration status does not affect your right to be safe and to ask for help when crimes happen to you.

If you are an immigrant or undocumented, you have protections under:

Illinois TRUST Act 

Under the TRUST Act, Illinois law enforcement cannot participate in immigration enforcement except in very limited situations. This means:

• If you report a crime to Illinois law enforcement, they cannot share your information with immigration authorities,
• Local law enforcement cannot arrest you simply because you are an immigrant, and,
• They cannot ask about your immigration status or refuse to help you because you are not a US citizen.

Note that if you are undocumented and a federal criminal warrant is out for you when you report a crime, local law enforcement may work with immigration authorities to transfer you to an immigration agent’s custody. Learn more about your rights as an immigrant when confronting law enforcement.

VOICES Act 

The Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (“VOICES”) Act provides help for victims of certain crimes in the U.S. to apply for U or T Visas, giving temporary status. Victims of qualifying criminal activity must help law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting certain types of crimes. They will also need a certification from law enforcement for their visa application. The VOICES act places requirements on law enforcement to ensure they appropriately provide these certifications. Learn more about Protections for victims of a crime with a U Visa, How to file for a U Visa for victims of crimes, and Human trafficking victims and T Visa.

VAWA Self-Petition 

Immigrants and undocumented persons who are victims of domestic violence may also qualify for legal status under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Learn more about VAWA cancellation of removal.

Warning: if your U or T Visa application or your VAWA self-petition is denied, and you do not have an immigration status, you could face deportation. Learn more about changing your immigration status to a U or T Visa or a VAWA self-petitioner as a victim.

Need help with immigration matters?

Immigration matters are complicated. Speak with a lawyer to see if you qualify for a U or T Visa or a VAWA self-petition. Here are some organizations in Chicago, which can help you with a U or T Visa application or a VAWA self-petition:

• National Immigrant Justice Center (312) 660-1370
• Legal Aid Chicago (312) 341-1070
• Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy (312) 408-1210
• World Relief Chicago (773) 583-9191
• Legal Aid Society (312) 986-4105
• Illinois Access to Justice also provides a list of contacts for immigration and criminal legal help. Select “Immigration Legal Services” or “Criminal Legal Services” in the “All Subcategories” drop-down menu to access the contact.

More information

For more information, please review or visit:

• What should I do if I am a crime victim? from the Crime Survivors Resource Center,
• US Sentencing Commission’s guide about the crime victims’ rights, and
• National Center for Victims of Crime website for more information on what to do as a crime victim.

If you are unsure how to report a crime or how it could affect you, visit Get Legal Help.