Justice AuditOpen Justice Audit

Dekalb County, Illinois sentencing data

As of June 30, 2026, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records, 234 people sentenced in Dekalb County were held in Illinois state prisons. Their median sentence is 9 years, shorter than the statewide median of 10 years. 21% are serving 20 years or more, compared with 33% statewide. The most common offense is pred crim sex asslaut/victim <13.

234people in prison
9 yearsmedian sentence (state: 10 years)
21%serving 20+ years (state: 33%)
6life sentences

Sentences by offense: Dekalb County vs. Illinois

Offenses with 10+ people. Median of the longest sentence from each person's most recent sentencing; life and death sentences not included.

OffensePeopleDekalb median (yrs)Illinois median (yrs)
Pred Crim Sex Asslaut/Victim <13151114
Armed Robbery/No Firearm1411.512
Agg Domestic Battery/Strangle1344.5
Murder/Intent To Kill/Injure1237.540
Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault101218

Race

GroupPeopleShare
Black11850%
White8938%
Hispanic2511%

Groups with fewer than 10 people are not shown.

Other Illinois counties

About this data

Source: Illinois Department of Corrections public inmate records. People currently in state prison custody whose longest sentence was imposed in Dekalb County, one record per person, using the longest sentence from their most recent sentencing. Criminal history is not in the data, so differences between counties can reflect prior records as well as sentencing practice.