Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has introduced a new dashboard that provides detailed information on violent deaths and firearm-related injuries across the state. The dashboard is divided into two sections: Illinois Firearm Injury Rates and Illinois Violent Deaths, offering county-level data on incident types, weapon types, and victim residence.

"Firearm violence is a public health crisis that requires public health solutions," stated IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. He emphasized the importance of modernizing data collection to address firearm violence comprehensively. The initiative was supported by The Joyce Foundation and designed by Understory Consulting.

Data for the dashboard comes from two CDC-funded public health surveillance systems. The Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IVDRS), operated by Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, provides data on violent deaths since 2015. IDPH syndromic surveillance contributes emergency department visit data from 185 hospitals statewide.

Tim Daly from The Joyce Foundation expressed support for the project, stating it will help make informed policy decisions to prevent gun violence. Quiwana Bell from the Illinois Department of Human Services highlighted the importance of reliable data in directing resources effectively.

Maryann Mason from Northwestern University noted that the dashboard equips stakeholders with critical data to address public health issues related to violence.

The dashboard reveals trends such as men being more likely victims of violent deaths and non-fatal firearm injuries in Illinois. Homicide rates spiked in 2020 and 2021, while other death rates remained stable. Firearms were involved in a significant percentage of violent deaths among those under 18 years old between 2015-2022.

Chicago reported the highest rate of non-fatal firearms injury, with young adults aged 20-to-29 most affected by non-fatal injuries and violent deaths. Firearm violence disproportionately affects communities of color, with Black residents significantly more impacted than white residents.

While currently focused on firearms injuries, IDPH plans to expand the dashboard's scope to include other incidents affecting public wellbeing. This initiative aligns with IDPH's broader efforts to reduce firearm violence through campaigns like "Pause to Heal" and promoting safe gun storage practices.