Chicago’s homicide rate has decreased for the third consecutive year since 2016, according to multiple reports.
As reported by CNN, the city of Chicago had a record of 490 homicides in the year 2019, which, according to the Chicago Police, decreased around 13 percent as compared to 2018’s homicide rate at 564. The 2019 rate comes in at about a 35 percent decrease compared to 2016’s homicide rate, which stood at 756.
The Hill reported that there were also fewer shootings in the city. An initial count from the local police reported that there were 2,139 shootings in 2019, down from 2018, which had 2,367 shootings. That’s about a 9.6 percent decrease from 2018.
As CNN reported, Chicago Police will be conducting another assessment of homicides and shootings by the end of the year, up until the last few hours of 2019. The numbers will be released once an audit conducted by the FBI is completed. According to the outlet, that should be within the first few weeks of 2020.
The result shows a welcome reduction compared to 2016, when violent crimes were particularly high, according to The Hill. CNN reported that in 2016, Chicago had a total of 762 murders and it was the most violent and deadly year for the past two decades.
According to CNN, two-thirds of violent crimes were committed in the south and west sides of Chicago, covered by five police districts. There were random surges of homicides; for instance, 12 murders were committed on Father’s Day. Furthermore, holiday seasons also had high rates of homicide and crimes.
Chicago is right up there when it comes to murder rates compared to other big cities in American.
The Hill reported that the decrease in crime is partly due to the increase in the number of authorities hired. City leaders, taking the report on board, are determined to decrease the number of crimes committed.
CNN also reported that officials invested in data-driven policing, focusing on using data to determine where crimes are likely to occur. Officials make use of technology such as security cameras and gunshot detection systems to help in predicting possible locations of crimes.
“I think that all of those things working together—being on the ground, supporting vulnerable victims, supporting vulnerable communities—led to the declines that we saw this year, and particularly over the course of the summer,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CNN reported.
