Jan 2021

Reducing Crime Through Environmental Design: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment of Street Lighting in New York City

Lucie Parker Aaron Chalfin

This paper offers novel experimental evidence that violent crimes can be successfully reduced by changing the situational environment that potential victims and offenders face. We focus on a ubiquitous but understudied feature of the urban landscape—street lighting—and report the first experimental evidence on the effect of street lighting on crime.

Related Resources
IL Office of Firearm Violence Prevention
Interactive Map

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.

United States Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence in America
Advisory

United States Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence in America

Jun 2024

United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a landmark advisory declaring firearm violence in America to be a public health crisis with devastating and far-reaching consequences for the nation’s health and well-being.

Summer Safety Analysis: Chicago Crime Trends
Presentation

Summer Safety Analysis: Chicago Crime Trends

May 2024

These data visualizations present our summer safety analysis on Chicago crime trends.

Economic Club of Chicago- Chicago’s Safety Snapshot: Issues and Opportunities
Presentation

Economic Club of Chicago- Chicago’s Safety Snapshot: Issues and Opportunities

Sep 2023

These slides were presented by the Crime Lab at a forum hosted by the Economic Club and Commercial Club of Chicago.

Latest Updates

Addressing Data Challenges to Prevent Domestic Homicide
UChicago Crime Lab
Jul 2024

Addressing Data Challenges to Prevent Domestic Homicide

Stephanie Drescher is the Operations Captain, Executive Section at the Madison (WI) Police Department and a graduate of the 2023 inaugural cohort of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). Our Crime Lab team spoke with Captain Drescher to learn how her experience in the PLA has shaped her work at her home department.

Improving the quality of life in downtown Knoxville
UChicago Crime Lab
Jul 2024

Improving the quality of life in downtown Knoxville

Captain Sammy Shaffer is the Commanding Officer of the recently created Central District in the Knoxville Police Department and a graduate of the 2023 inaugural cohort of The University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). Our Crime Lab team chatted with Captain Shaffer earlier this year to hear more about how his experience with the PLA has shaped his work at his home department.

Chicago CEOs Raise $100 Million to Fight Crime After Bloody Days
Media Mention
Bloomberg
Jul 2024

Chicago CEOs Raise $100 Million to Fight Crime After Bloody Days

Bloomberg’s Isis Almeida and Miranda Davis cite Crime Lab analysis of data on shootings in Chicago during the summer months, which account for more than one-third of the city’s shootings every year.