2018

The First Ten: A Decade of Impact at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab

We are pleased to share our report, The First Ten: A Decade of Impact at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab. While there is no way to adequately express our gratitude to the extraordinary people and organizations with whom we have worked over the last decade, we offer this report as a tribute to you all.

We started the University of Chicago Crime Lab in 2008 and the Education Lab in 2011 because of the unconscionable levels of gun violence and social inequity in Chicago and across the nation. We firmly believed that the University of Chicago was in a position to do more to be a part of the solution.

Over the last decade, we have sought to use rigorous research and data to pursue answers, insights, and scalable solutions, working closely with those most deeply affected by gun violence and educational inequity. To do this work, we joined forces with those already developing and implementing promising ideas across the public, non-profit, and private sectors. We’ve tried our best to approach this work with humility, honesty, vigor, and a seriousness of purpose.

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Latest Updates

What new tactic Knoxville police and city officials say helped reduce shootings in 2024
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What new tactic Knoxville police and city officials say helped reduce shootings in 2024

The Knoxville News Sentinel’s Myron Thompson cites a Crime Lab study showing that streets with more lighting see a decline in crime.

Chicago violence: City sees fewer than 600 murders in 2024 for 1st time since 2019; shootings, carjackings also down
Media Mention
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Jan 2025

Chicago violence: City sees fewer than 600 murders in 2024 for 1st time since 2019; shootings, carjackings also down

ABC 7’s Craig Wall covers the Crime Lab’s year-end analysis of crime trends in Chicago showing that despite encouraging signs of progress, Black Chicagoans are still 20 times more likely than their white counterparts to be killed by a gun or to be a victim of a homicide.

Maintaining violent crime decline is Chicago’s evergreen resolution
Media Mention
Chicago Sun Times
Jan 2025

Maintaining violent crime decline is Chicago’s evergreen resolution

The Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board provides commentary on the promising declines in violence from the Crime Lab’s end-of-year analysis and the need for continued support for successful violence prevention programs.