Crime & Law
9 months
ago
When Private Security Patrols Public Streets
More Chicagoans are outsourcing their policing to private companies. What does that mean for the city?
9 months
ago
Why Has Violence in Chicago Escalated? Three Theories
Population loss, the absence of CeaseFire, and the splintering of Chicago’s gangs suggest different roots to the problem—and different solutions.
9 months
ago
Dispatches from the Rap Wars
My 18 months inside one of Chicago’s most notorious gangs.
10 months
ago
With Homicides Up in Chicago, Attention Turns to Our Diminished Detectives
The number of detectives in the Chicago Police Department has fallen by a quarter in eight years, and they make up a much smaller percentage of the force than in other cities. And it’s been going on for years.
10 months
ago
What Does the “Blue Lives Matter” Ordinance Really Mean?
In the fight to extend hate-crime protection to police and other public safety workers, the symbolism outweighs practical implications.
10 months
ago
Chicago Gets Another Task Force on Human Trafficking—Will This One Work?
The city has the third-highest volume of human trafficking in the country, and experts say this new group could be in the position to make a big impact.
10 months
ago
ESPN’s South Side Town Hall on Athletes and Violence: A Good Start Down a Long Road
The televised special sometimes oversimplified the topic, but it was still refreshing to see a frank discussion about how race and sports intersect.
10 months
ago
This Is What Happens When Courts Decide What Is and Isn’t Art
Cook County says DJing doesn’t qualify as “fine art,” and they could collect some hefty taxes for it. But it’ll be an uphill battle against history, taste, and case law.
10 months
ago
At Church on the 9, A Spotlight on Black Joy
The biweekly outdoor open mic in Chatham aims to reclaim the corner—from violence, from police brutality, and for South Side artists.
10 months
ago
