2017

Gun Trace Report

Since 2013, the Chicago Police Department has recovered nearly 7,000 “crime guns” each year. For the purposes of this report, a crime gun refers to a firearm recovered by CPD that was illegally possessed, used, or suspected to be used in furtherance of a crime.

The overwhelming majority of these firearms were originally purchased outside of the city limits and brought into Chicago. So far in 2017, CPD is already on pace to exceed last year’s gun recoveries. It is self-evident that the availability of illegally circulated firearms in Chicago is directly connected to its deadly street violence. Simply put, each conflict becomes potentially more lethal due to easy access to a gun.

In an unfortunate but persistent reality, certain retailers and jurisdictions disproportionately account for the guns trafficked into Chicago that sustain its illegal gun market and associated violent crime.

Related Resources
Coming April 21, 2025 – Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence
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Coming April 21, 2025 – Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence

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Crime Lab Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig authored a book that argues the lack of progress in reducing gun violence ultimately stems from our having misunderstood the nature of the problem, and that behavioral science gives us a new way to understand – and solve – gun violence in America.

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Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard, launched by the Crime Lab in 2021, is featured in a toolkit created by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund as a part of its Gun Violence Data Fellowship.

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Valuing the benefits of reducing firearm violence in the United States

Jan 2025

This paper estimates the monetized value of the impact of reducing firearm violence and how that value is distributed across the population.

IL Office of Firearm Violence Prevention
Data Tool

IL Office of Firearm Violence Prevention

Jul 2024

The University of Chicago Crime Lab has partnered with the Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) in support of the OFVP’s goal to use data to focus resources. The Crime Lab prepared the following interactive map to support the RPSA Youth Development Services grantmaking process.

Latest Updates

Welcome Greg Jackson, advisor to the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s CVI Leadership Academy
Announcement
UChicago Crime Lab
Feb 2025

Welcome Greg Jackson, advisor to the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s CVI Leadership Academy

The University of Chicago Crime Lab is thrilled to share that Gregory N. Jackson will be joining our team as an advisor to our Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA).

2025 CVI Leadership Academy Celebration
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UChicago Crime Lab
Apr 2025

2025 CVI Leadership Academy Celebration

The CVI Leadership Academy will host the graduation of its third cohort and a celebration of the field in Miami, FL.

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Op-Ed
Jan 2025

A Better Conversation on Guns

Crime Lab affiliate Megan Kang highlights the importance of addressing gun violence through meaningful conversations with gun owners, focusing on their perspectives and values to develop more effective and inclusive solutions.