The rate of crime and murder in Chicago has significantly increased and reached such an epidemic level that requires the intervention of the Federal government. In 2016, over 760 people were murdered in Chicago, which represents a 58% increase compared to the previous year. The number was higher than Los Angeles and New York. The city has equally witnessed shootings of more than 4000 people in the same year. This year, the police in Chicago have noted some progress in the reduction (drop by 14%) of shootings and murder rates compared to 2017. However, the rate of murder has remained widely unchanged. To help reduce the murder rate, the Federal government should stop the illegal flow of arms, overhaul housing, and invest in after-school activities.
The government should form a specialized team that will work towards curbing of illegal arms alongside using federal prosecutors to apprehend repeat offenders who are said to be widely responsible for most of the city’s gun violence cases. It is estimated that 60% of guns collected at crime scenes are mostly bought from outside Illinois, such as Indiana where gun laws make it easier to obtain guns (Lott, 2010). In Indiana, vendors are often not subjected to standard background checks when it comes to the private sale of guns. Regulation of gun ownership will ensure a significant drop in Chicago murders since guns are the most common weapons used to kill in Chicago.
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House overhaul would be another vital step to reduce the murder rate in Chicago because most of the violence is attributed to social disadvantages among low-income minority groups. Most homicides are normally witnessed in such distressed communities (Sampson, 2012). One of the single most contributing factors to crime in the city is the idea of the housing crisis in areas that are concentrated and have no space. In this regard, the government should make use of developers getting government subsidies to encompass low-income housing in the new buildings coming up in South and West Loop areas. In addition, the displaced families can also be provided with vouchers (Leovy, 2014). Reducing this stress can equally involve federal officials working together with the city to introduce rent caps for the low-income populations. People who have decent housing have a lower likelihood of engaging in criminal activities.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is involved in a battle of the state budget that has brought about a borrowing of over $3000M to cater for the pension funds for teachers and to keep the schools running throughout the year. Given the financial turmoil that the CPS is encountering, the federal government can come in and provide more resources to assist in after-school programmes that aim at violence intervention, job training, and enhance social responses to make youths become competitive upon getting into the job market (Breo, 2016). Indeed, a big difference, as relates to crime rate reduction, would be observed between youths attending after-school programs compared to youths who do not.
Murders in Chicago city has been a common occurrence for quite a long time, with most of the violent crimes involving the use of guns. In this regard, the single most intervention mechanism is to regulate gun ownership and ensure that those involved are properly prosecuted. The government should also empower citizens in the education sector as well as ensuring that those living in the slums are given descent kind housing since those who engage in criminal activities mostly hail from low-income neighborhoods.
References
Breo, D. L. (2016). The crime of the Century . Skyhorse Publishing.
Leovy, J. (2014). Ghettoside: A true story of murder in America . New York: Spiegel & Grau, Random House Inc.
Lott, J. R. (2010). More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun-control laws . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sampson, R. J. (2012). A great American city: Chicago and the enduring neighborhood effect . Chicago; London: The University of Chicago Press.
