Since a spike in shootings and homicides in 2016, public agencies, nonprofits, and community members across Chicago have ramped up their efforts to sustainably reduce gun violence. While these efforts have collectively contributed to a significant decrease in shootings and homicides since 2016, gun violence remains at a level higher than in peer cities like Los Angeles and New York.

To strengthen Chicago’s focus on reducing gun violence, in the spring, newly-elected Mayor Lori Lightfoot committed to increasing the staffing and capacity of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety (OPS), and to boost coordination between the various people, organizations, and agencies working across the city to reduce violence. With the Mayor taking office in late May, OPS had very little time to ramp up before the start of the summer—typically the most violent time of the year, when about 50% of homicides and 40% of non-fatal shootings occur.

Accordingly, the Mayor’s Office asked Chicago CRED, UChicago Crime Lab, and Civic Consulting Alliance to help OPS develop and implement gun violence reduction initiatives over summer 2019, guided by three priority objectives:

• Reduce shootings and homicides
• Strengthen law enforcement effectiveness, accountability, and legitimacy
• Develop a foundation for long term city public safety strategy and infrastructure

From June through October 2019, Civic Consulting Alliance and our pro bono partners supported four summer gun violence reduction initiatives (s ummer safety cabinet meetings, regional coordination with stakeholders from across the South and West Sides, backbone operational support, and 2020 budget development) that have had a significant impact on OPS and the new administration’s approach to gun violence. Specifically:

• With support from Civic Consulting Alliance, Chicago CRED, and Crime Lab, OPS’ capacity increased by 8 staff over the summer, enabling the Mayor’s Office to develop and quickly launch a summer strategy.
• Our work on the Summer Safety Cabinet Meetings and Regional Coordination initiatives helped to establish a governance structure that connects people on-the-ground—from across the city and it’s violence prevention infrastructure—with the City and the Mayor.
• As we head into 2020, OPS has continued to build upon this work, working with Civic Consulting Alliance to launch a comprehensive violence reduction strategy that will include year-round planning and coordination.

While no level of gun violence is acceptable—and much work remains to be done—we are encouraged that homicides and nonfatal shootings both decreased in summer 2019 compared to 2018, continuing a trend that began in 2017. We are hopeful that, with the infrastructure for collaboration in place, OPS will help Chicago continue this downward trend next year and in the years to come, and that someday summer will no longer synonymous with gun violence in Chicago.