Silent Witnesses makes Police Job Harder

 Posted on November 23, 2012 in Criminal Defense

It is not unusual to hear the saying “snitches get stitches” around the streets of Chicago. While it may sound like a child’s rhyme, it is a serious and threatening statement that witnesses to criminal acts. This can be especially daunting when someone witnesses a crime of violence.

Most people believe that it is the job of the police to solve the rising crimes and there is very little community trust in the police. Residents of high crime areas do not feel that the police are there to serve and protect and would rather not make their jobs easier by telling what they have seen. This reluctance to tell is just what police say makes it even harder to solve crimes that happen every day in these communities.

Chicago Police Department statistics state that arrests have been made in approximately 30 percent of shooting homicides and over 70 percent of nonfatal shootings continue to go unsolved. Not only are witnesses unwilling to talk but often times the victims themselves are unwilling to tell even when they know the perpetrator of the crime. These numbers are astounding. Police are afraid that when the perpetrators go unpunished, they will continue to victimize other people.

Chicago has a very deeply entrenched gang culture that gives even more reason for people want to keep quiet. Many residents believe that if the police cannot control the city’s gangs, how can they protect the residents who may want to step forward and report what they have seen going on?

If you or a loved one have been charged with a violent crime in Chicago or the surrounding area, you need to have an aggressive and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney at your side to make sure that not only your interests are represented, but also to ensure that your rights are protected.