Police Stops Down, But Gun Violence Up

 Posted on August 02, 2016 in Criminal Defense

If you live in or around Chicago, you are well aware that crime in the city is rampant. There is no shortage of crime news in Chicago, and it seems like there is no end in sight. Looking at gun violence in the city specifically, shooting crimes, and crimes involving guns, are up 80 percent this year over last year. There were more than 650 shooting incidents in 2016 by March. Memorial Day weekend in Chicago this year saw 64 shooting victims, with six of those ending in fatalities, according to an article in The New York Times. Additionally, police have seized nearly 100 fewer guns this year than they did at this same time last year. These startling statistics indicate a serious problem. So why has there been an increase in gun crime this year?

What’s Causing the Spike in Gun Violence?

For a long time, Chicago law enforcement officers were very aggressive when it came to stopping and frisking subjects. While taking an aggressive approach to police stop and frisk is good for identifying crime and stopping it before something catastrophic occurs, it also risks ensnaring a significant amount of innocent people. There is also evidence that indicates that stop and frisks were conducted disproportionately on African Americans and other minority groups in Chicago.

After years of pushing stop and frisk reform, the American Civil Liberties Union finally got the change that they fought so hard for. At the start of 2016, a new state law concerning police stop and frisks took effect that prompted Chicago police to change the way that they conduct stops in the city. The criteria for making a stop became more strict, and the reporting process after a stop became longer. As a result of this change in procedure, the number of stop and frisks that law enforcement conducts have declined by more than 80 percent, according to DNAInfo. Last year 157,346 stop and frisks were recorded, while just under 30,000 had been made by March of this year. Fewer police stops mean more guns are staying on the streets of Chicago when these same guns used to be picked up during stop and frisk searches. More guns on the streets equate to more street violence.

Is a lack of police enforcement to blame for the dramatic increase in gun violence across Chicago? Some think this is the case and argue that law enforcement is not conducting stop and frisks because of fear of being sued.

Reach Out to Us for Professional Help

While law enforcement is making fewer stops, they are still making them and people are being arrested and charged with various offenses. If you are facing criminal charges, you should consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact a Rolling Meadows criminal defense attorney immediately. Our attorneys are able to assist you today.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/chicago-shootings.html

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160331/bronzeville/chicago-police-stops-down-by-90-percent-as-gun-violence-skyrockets