Crime Trends
Crime reduction has been a major success story in our community, throughout Chicago, and in urban cities across the country. Violent crime in the Hyde Park-South Kenwood community (47th Street to 61st Street/Cottage Grove Avenue to Lake Michigan) decreased 48 percent from 1998 to 2008. In 2008 alone, overall crime in Hyde Park declined by 24 percent compared to 2007 and was down 43 percent over the five year period.
Hyde Park-South Kenwood Total Violent Crime, 1995–2008
The following graph portrays Hyde Park-South Kenwood violent crime (murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault and battery) from 1995 through 2008. Although there has been an occasional increase in violent crime comparing one year to another, a steady decrease in violent crime in the community is evident.
- 1995 441
- 1996 523
- 1997 518
- 1998 452
- 1999 418
- 2000 382
- 2001 394
- 2002 348
- 2003 373
- 2004 353
- 2005 397
- 2006 298
- 2007 301
- 2008 236
Total Violent Crime January–December, 2004–2008
The following graphs compare total violent crime (murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault and battery) for the years 2004 through 2008 in the UCPD patrol area and the Hyde Park-South Kenwood neighborhood.
UCPD Patrol Area
- 2004 710
- 2005 809
- 2006 713
- 2007 670
- 2008 553
Hyde Park-South Kenwood
- 2004 353
- 2005 397
- 2006 298
- 2007 301
- 2008 236
Hyde Park-South Kenwood Violent Crime
Average per Month 2006–2008
The accompanying graph illustrates the average number of violent crimes per month that have been reported in the Hyde Park-South Kenwood community over the past three years. Violent crimes occurred most frequently in October and the lowest average was in December. Over the three year period covered, 70 percent of the violent crimes were robberies.
- Jan 21
- Feb 19
- Mar 19
- Apr 17
- May 26
- Jun 30
- Jul 24
- Aug 31
- Sep 25
- Oct 33
- Nov 19
- Dec 15
Rate of Violent Crime Incidents per 100,000 Population in Hyde Park-South Kenwood Compared to Chicago’s 25 Police Districts
January 1 through October 31, 2009
People often ask how the crime rate in Hyde Park-South Kenwood compares to crime in the other areas of the city of Chicago. The accompanying graph compares the rate of violent crime per 100,000 population in the Hyde Park-South Kenwood community to the city’s 25 police districts. Caution should be used in making judgments based on this data. Crime rates can vary within police districts and are affected by several factors, including the amount of commercial activity in a community and its daytime population and evening visitor population. Please note the Hyde Park-South Kenwood community is part of the 21st Police District; for comparative purposes, it is treated as its own district in this chart.
- 16 209
- 20 277
- 19 331
- 23 380
- 17 385
- Hyde Park 470
- 24 536
- 18 540
- 21 606
- 14 754
- 12 791
- 9 799
- 25 838
- 13 839
- 22 847
- 8 870
- Citywide 982
- 10 987
- 4 1358
- 1 1642
- 5 1678
- 2 1741
- 15 1911
- 3 2206
- 6 2237
- 7 2455
- 11 2565
Sources: Chicago Police Department/South East Chicago Commission (SECC)