NCJ Number
55843
Date Published
1977
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THIS STATISTICAL REPORT WITH A NARRATIVE SUMMARY COVERS CRIME RATES, ARREST STATISTICS, BREAKDOWNS OF OFFENSE DATA BY TYPE, JUVENILE OFFENSE AND ARREST DATA, TRAFFIC DATA, AND OPERATIONS STATISTICS.
Abstract
THE PRINCIPAL FINDING IS THAT MAJOR CRIME IN CHICAGO WAS REDUCED 4.2 PERCENT IN 1977. THIS IS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT MAJOR CRIME RATES HAVE DECLINED WITH AN OVERALL REDUCTION OF 16 PERCENT FOR THE 3-YEAR PERIOD. DECREASES WERE NOTED IN ALL CATEGORIES EXCEPT RAPE, WHICH INCREASED 6.9 PERCENT. IMPROVED REPORTING IS BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCREASE. HOMICIDES INCREASED 1.1 PERCENT WITH A TOTAL OF 823, COMPARED TO 814 IN 1976. OF THESE 71.9 PERCENT WERE CLEARED. IN ADDITION, 77 HOMICIDES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR WERE SOLVED FOR A CLEARANCE RATE OF 81.2 PERCENT. THE CRIME DECREASE IS ATTRIBUTED TO STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD PATROL EFFORTS. CHICAGO HAS 10 FEDERALLY FUNDED BEAT REPRESENTATIVE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS, A SENIOR CITIZENS' CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND NEW TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT ARE ALL DESCRIBED. THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES A COMPUTERIZED RECORDS NUMBERING SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS A DISPATCHER TO ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY TO THE OFFICER ON THE SCENE, A NEW FINGERPRINT AND FACSIMILE TRANSMITTER CONNECTED WITH FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION HEADQUARTERS, AND MOBILE TERMINAL EQUIPPED SQUAD CARS. IMPROVED TRAINING IN LIFE-SAVING TECHNIQUES AND COLLEGE COURSES IN POLICE WORK WERE INSTITUTED. THE OPERTIONS DATA PRESENTED INCLUDE THE OVERALL BUDGET SUMMARY, THE SALARY SCHEDULE, AND THE SUMMARY OF DEPARTMENTAL DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES. (GLR)