Like most of the nation, Chicago has experienced significant declines in violent crime over the past ten years. Through 2007, there were fifteen consecutive years of declining crime rates. Over the ten year period of 1998-2007, Chicago saw a 34.4% decrease in total index crime. Unfortunately, in 2008, the index crime rate increased by 2.5% from 2007. The violent crime rate index increased by 2.1%, including a 14.6% increase in murders. As of April 29, 2009, the number of murders are below 2008’s figures and are currently tracking the homicide rate of 2007.
Overall, murders in Chicago have fallen from a high of 761 in 1997 to 442 in 2007, increasing to 510 in 2008. While this general decline is significant, the murder rate in Chicago remains unacceptably high. Moreover, an analysis of murders from 1991 through 2008 demonstrates that shootings were the predominate cause during that time period, ranging from a low of 69% in 1991 and 1992, to a high of 80.6% of murders in 2008. In addition, street gang altercations have consistently been the primary motive for murder from 1991 through 2008. Of all murders committed in 2008 where motive was identified, street gang altercation was the motive in more than 35% of them.
In the face of such challenges, PSN Chicago is committed to excellence in all five elements of the PSN strategy. The cornerstone of the Northern District of Illinois' local program is that every state defendant charged with a gun related offense will be reviewed for possible federal prosecution. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, the Cook County State’s Attorneys Office, and federal law enforcement agencies, is aggressively prosecuting gang members and organizations in an effort to stem the violence that street gangs bring to Chicago’s neighborhoods and the surrounding communities.
PSN couples these enforcement efforts with direct outreach to formerly incarcerated individuals through our Parole and Probation forums to warn them of the severe consequences of committing a gun crime. These forums also offer PSN staff, prosecutors and local law enforcement the opportunity to provide much needed resources to recent parolees and create networks of people outside of the judicial and law enforcement systems who are committed to making a difference in their neighborhoods.
Since its inception, the strategy of the Northern District of Illinois Attorney’s Office has been to concentrate all of its resources in the Chicago Police Districts with the highest incidence of gun crime. Beginning in two districts and growing to six in 2007, PSN funding has supported a core group of programs designed to provide targeted resources for law enforcement, prosecution, research, media and prisoner re-entry. The PSN steering committee meets monthly to foster greater communication around developing our comprehensive strategy.
