In the first study of its kind, the Urban Institute found that police surveillance cameras in Chicago have had a noticeable impact on crime in the areas in which they are placed. The same couldn’t be said for Washington DC, however, and the report links the difference to the enforcement related to the cameras. read more

In a program known as Plan for Transformation, thousands of former public housing residents were spread throughout Chicago’s outlying areas when the longstanding housing projects came down. And since that migration, existing residents of these once quiet neighborhoods have blamed their new neighbors for an influx in crime and problems in their neighborhood. However, this report and countless others show that the new residents may have nothing to do with the fluctuations in crime. read more

Areas around Chicago are seeing a migration of gang members and struggling to keep crime in check as the supposed gangsters leave the city for a quieter suburban life. According to the Sun-Times, Sauk Village south of the city and areas like Northbrook, Glenview, and Palatine north of the city are experiencing similar influxes. read more

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently did a feature on Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center, a unique prison designed specifically to help offenders who are incarcerated and battling drug addiction. As the article details, sometimes prison is the wakeup call that addicts need to get their lives straight. read more

Oak Park Police Chief has come up with an interesting idea to help citizens fight crime. Whistles. Yes, whistles. He advocates members of the public carrying whistles so that in case of a robbery, they can sound the whistle, attracting attention and hopefully scaring the would-be robber away.

Think this is a joke? You’re not the only one. Many people are laughing at Chief Rick Tanksley’s idea and think the whole whistle blower idea is one that would’ve only been effective in years gone by.

This article from the Sun-Times points out a rise in robberies in the Oak Park area. They were up to 166 incidents in 2008 compared with 114 in 2007. That is quite a leap and definitely one that the chief of police should be addressing and making efforts to get under control. I am not convinced the whistles are the best answer though. read more