Clearance Rates

Chicago’s clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings – the rate at which these cases are solved, or “cleared” – are among the lowest of major cities in the U.S.. Low clearance rates can undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system, as community members witness those who commit acts of violence remain free. This undermining of public confidence in the police is a problem in its own right and may further fuel the gun violence problem by reducing the willingness of the public to cooperate with law enforcement. Worse still, instead of formally seeking justice, some in the community may be encouraged to resort to retaliation, further continuing the cycle of violence.

The Crime Lab has partnered with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to learn from historical trends and evaluate current efforts to improve investigations and increase the clearance rate. The Crime Lab is currently working on two studies in this area. The first is an exploration of homicides and arrests in Chicago spanning 1965 to 2020, intending to determine the factors that influence solvability and how they have changed over time.

The second study is a quasi-experimental evaluation of the Area Technology Centers (ATCs), which were established with the aim of improving homicide and non-fatal shooting case clearance. The Crime Lab partnered with CPD and the Griffin Foundation to help develop the ATCs. The model includes physical rooms equipped with the latest in video collection technology combined with teams of officers and detectives explicitly trained to collect, compile, and present digital evidence in homicide and non-fatal shooting cases. The first ATC opened in CPD’s Area South in early 2019; as of 2023, there are five ATCs across the city. The Crime Lab research team will compare the clearance rate impacts of areas with ATCs compared to those without to gain insight into the effectiveness of the ATCs on investigations. The results from this study will be helpful to police departments around the country considering similar technology-focused initiatives.