Chicago crime: Assaults up 7% for year, as women targeted

By Jon Josko, Hilary Gowins

04/11/2024

Assaults were up 7% for the year ended in March. Black Chicagoans were 5 times more likely to be assaulted, with Black women assaulted nearly as often as Black men – a much higher rate than women of other races. There’s a disturbing trend of targeted violence.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicagoans suffer decade-high robberies, record-low arrest rate

By Patrick Andriesen

03/28/2024

Chicago saw more robbery victims in 2023 than in any year of the past decade, reporting 1 victim for every 250 residents. While crimes surged, robbery arrests hit a record low. Fewer cops is not helping.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Report: Chicago violent crime spikes 11%, arrests in just 11%

By Hilary Gowins, Jon Josko

03/12/2024

Even though the number of violent crimes in Chicago grew to its highest level in a decade last year, the arrest rate dropped. Robbery and vehicle theft both rose by over 30% last year.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Vallas: Chicago needs a public safety act to counter SAFE-T Act

By Paul Vallas

02/01/2024

Chicago's rampant crime is not getting attention from city leaders. It is getting worse thanks to the SAFE-T Act. To fix that, city leaders need their own public safety act. And soon.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicago hits record high car thefts, record low arrests in 2023

By Patrick Andriesen

01/22/2024

Chicago drivers reported more car thefts in 2023 than in any year since the city started tracking them. Arrest rates hit their lowest level of the period.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Vallas: Chicago violent crime up again, as city cuts police officers

By Paul Vallas

01/08/2024

Chicago’s status as the nation’s murder capital was retained in 2023. So, what are city leaders doing about it? Cutting cops.

TAGS: crime

Chicago homicides in 2022 up 43% above pre-pandemic levels

By Patrick Andriesen

10/12/2023

Chicagoans reported 43% more homicides in 2022 than in 2019, the last baseline year before COVID-19 pandemic tensions ushered in two of the city’s deadliest years in a quarter century. Few communities were exempt from the rise in violent crime.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicago sees total crime drop, but most-violent crimes up over decade

By Patrick Andriesen

10/12/2023

2022 marked a decade-high number of assaults and motor vehicle thefts in Chicago while arrest rates plummeted to their lowest level in 10 years. The first eight months of 2023 has not been much better, with a 13% increase in overall crime.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Vallas: Chicago can use home rule powers to curb crime

By Paul Vallas

09/19/2023

The SAFE-T Act could make it too hard for Chicago to detain offenders. Residents can’t afford that when the city is already amid a violent crime surge. Chicago leaders should use home rule powers to create a city public safety act.

TAGS: crime

Vallas: Chicago has a new police chief, what’s his plan to fix the city’s crime problem? 

By Paul Vallas

08/18/2023

Larry Snelling, formerly the Chicago Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau chief, was selected Aug. 13 to become CPD’s next superintendent. Now, the city needs clarity on his plans to address Chicago’s crime problems.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, crime