Introduction to Chicago’s Summer Safety Plan
City officials unveiled their summer safety plan on Thursday ahead of the warmest months of the year in Chicago, which also see a peak in shootings and homicides. Their plan focuses on curbing mass shootings and reducing youth-involved and gender-based violence. Leaders also pledged to focus on the times when data shows people are most at risk of getting hurt, which they said is from 9 p.m. to midnight, Thursday to Sunday during the summer.
Focus on Weekend Nights and Teen Gatherings
The plan relies heavily on the work of violence interrupters to peacefully mediate conflict in Chicago’s neighborhoods that see the most violent crime and at large teen gatherings in downtown Chicago. “Historically, the summer months bring both joy and pain to our communities,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “City government alone cannot bring that healing that our communities need. We need everyone to rally together in this moment to contribute to a safer, stronger city.”
Deploying Officers and Keeping Teens Busy
At a press conference announcing the plan, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said he would prioritize deploying officers to communities most affected by violent crime. Snelling also promised to address large teen gatherings in the downtown area, some of which have turned violent. Part of that includes keeping teens busy with a number of activities this summer, such as the return of the city’s late-night basketball and softball series, and “Take Back the Block” parties, which aim to foster relationships between community members and public officials.
Role of Violence Interrupters
Snelling hopes the initiatives will help keep violent crime in the city at bay, which is already trending downward. “If we can avoid making arrests, that’s a good day for us,” Snelling said. “It’s a good day for everybody. But there are times when we have to, and when we have to, we will. But we’re going to do every single thing that we can to avoid that.” That’s why the city plan relies on the work of violence interrupters who are hired to resolve conflicts in peaceful ways within their own communities.
Vaughn Bryant, executive director of Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, speaks during a press conference in 2020.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file
Community Engagement and Outreach
Vaughn Bryant, the executive director of Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, said his organization will deploy outreach workers to violence hot spots during the high-risk weekend hours this summer. Bryant also said they’ll have a response unit committed to large teen gatherings, “To make sure that when our teens are out and about in the community, that they’re able to go home safe,” Bryant said. Outreach workers will also patrol the streets until 3 a.m. instead of ending their shift at 12 a.m. as they had in previous summers.
Hospital-Based Violence Prevention
Meanwhile, Public Health Commissioner Olusimbo Ige said her office is investing in hospital-based violence prevention. “Someone is hurt,” she said. “Thank goodness they didn’t die. They’re in the hospital recovering. Now, what is going to happen when they get out? Retaliation. They either get re-victimized or they become the aggressor. What if we engage that person, connect them to services, reroute them somewhere else, break up the cycle of violence?”
Conclusion
The summer safety plan unveiled by city officials aims to address the peak in shootings and homicides during the warmest months of the year in Chicago. By focusing on curbing mass shootings, reducing youth-involved and gender-based violence, and deploying officers to high-risk areas, the city hopes to create a safer environment for its residents. The plan’s reliance on violence interrupters and community outreach programs is a crucial step towards healing and rebuilding the community.
FAQs
Q: What is the focus of Chicago’s summer safety plan?
A: The plan focuses on curbing mass shootings, reducing youth-involved and gender-based violence, and addressing large teen gatherings in downtown Chicago.
Q: What role do violence interrupters play in the plan?
A: Violence interrupters are hired to resolve conflicts in peaceful ways within their own communities, and their work is a crucial part of the city’s summer safety plan.
Q: What initiatives are being implemented to keep teens busy and safe during the summer?
A: The city is implementing late-night basketball and softball series, and “Take Back the Block” parties to foster relationships between community members and public officials.
Q: How will outreach workers be deployed during the summer?
A: Outreach workers will be deployed to violence hot spots during high-risk weekend hours and will patrol the streets until 3 a.m.
Q: What is the goal of hospital-based violence prevention?
A: The goal is to engage individuals who have been hurt, connect them to services, and break up the cycle of violence to prevent retaliation and re-victimization.
