Editorial Standards
How IllinoisCrime.com reports on crime, courts, and public safety — and the principles that govern every editorial decision.
IllinoisCrime.com exists to make public safety information accessible, accurate, and useful to Illinois residents. We believe an informed public is a safer public. These standards govern how we gather, verify, and present information.
Presumption of innocence
All persons named in arrest records, booking information, or criminal charges on this site are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest or charge is an allegation — not a finding of guilt.
Allegations vs. established facts
We distinguish clearly between what is alleged and what has been established. When reporting on arrests, charges, or indictments, we use language that reflects the legal status of the matter: 'charged with,' 'accused of,' 'alleged to have,' or 'according to prosecutors.' We do not state as fact what has only been alleged. When a matter has been adjudicated — a conviction entered, a plea accepted, a case dismissed — we report the outcome and update our records accordingly.
Arrests are not convictions
An arrest record reflects that law enforcement took a person into custody. It does not establish guilt. Charges may be reduced, dismissed, or result in acquittal. We state this plainly on every page that displays arrest or booking information. Where we are aware that charges against a named individual were dropped or resulted in acquittal, we note that outcome in the record.
Preliminary reports vs. verified findings
Early reports of incidents — initial police press releases, scanner traffic, social media — are often incomplete or inaccurate. When we publish information from preliminary sources, we label it as such and update the record as verified information becomes available. We do not treat a first-hour report as a final account.
How we evaluate sources
Primary sources — official court records, law enforcement press releases, government datasets, and direct statements from named officials — are the foundation of our reporting. Secondary sources — news wire reports, local news coverage — are used when primary sources are unavailable and are attributed. Anonymous sources are used only when the information is material, cannot be obtained on the record, and the source's identity is known to our editors. We do not publish unverified tips as news.
Conflicting accounts
When credible sources conflict — when a defendant's account differs materially from a prosecutor's, or when two official records disagree — we report both accounts and note the discrepancy. We do not resolve factual disputes by choosing the account that makes a better story. Where a conflict cannot be resolved with available information, we say so.
Data accuracy and methodology
Safety scores, rankings, and statistical analyses published on this site are derived from public datasets. Our methodology page explains exactly how each metric is calculated, what data sources are used, and what the limitations of each measure are. We do not present derived statistics as more precise than the underlying data supports.
Named individuals
When we publish information about named individuals — booking records, court filings, most-wanted listings — we rely on official public records. We do not publish information about private individuals who are not subjects of public records. Individuals who believe information about them is inaccurate or outdated may request a review through our corrections process.
Independence
IllinoisCrime.com is independently operated. We do not accept payment to publish, suppress, or alter news coverage. Advertising and sponsorship relationships are disclosed and do not influence editorial decisions. [Add real ownership/independence disclosure here]
Editorial team
[Add real staff credentials, editorial leadership, and organizational history here. Until then, this section is intentionally left as a placeholder — we do not fabricate credentials.]
Questions about our standards?
Questions about our editorial standards or a specific coverage decision? Contact us at news@illinoiscrime.com.
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Last reviewed: October 2026