We have had multiple weeks of increases in crime that means more violence now than this time last year.
The latest Chicago Police data shows crime is above last year in the most serious categories.
Based on the official Chicago Police Department Week 14 Public Safety Report, the data confirms a sharp and sustained reversal of the city’s earlier claims of downward trend in violence.
The “active upward pressure” is now reflected in the most critical categories as of April 5, 2026.
Week 11 was the moment the “early-year drop stopped” and the trend flipped from negative to positive for the most serious crimes.
Week 12 was when that shift gained momentum, with rising incidents beginning to erase the earlier declines.
Week 13 was when the increase became visible, as multiple categories moved above last year’s levels.
Week 14 is where the trend is now established, with sustained increases confirming violence is rising again.
The “Establishment” of the Surge (Week 14)
Week 14 is the point where short-term spikes solidified into a clear year-to-date (YTD) increase over 2025:
Year-to-Date (YTD):
Murders: +3% (101 in 2026 vs. 98 in 2025)
Shooting Incidents: +4% (323 vs. 310)
Motor Vehicle Theft: +9% (4,325 vs. 3,980)
The 7-Day Spike: Murders jumped 250% (7 vs. 2) compared to the same week last year.
The 28-Day Confirmation: Over the last month, murders are up 32% and shootings are up 12%, proving that the momentum is accelerating rather than tapering off.
Timeline of the Reversal
Week 11 (Mar 9–15): Murders jumped 100% for the week
Week 12 (Mar 16–22): Murders +35% (last 28 days), shootings +8% (last 28 days) Violent incidents rose as the trend began to turn “red”
Week 13 (Mar 23–29): The Surge. Shooting incidents exploded by 78% in a single week
Week 14 (Mar 30–Apr 5): Murders +250% (last 7 days), murders +32% (last 28 days) Trend Established. Violence is officially higher than this time last year
More people are being shot.
More people are being killed.
Crime isn’t just up — it’s increasing again, and faster than before.
What Week 14 shows (simple + direct)
📈 Violence is now clearly UP
- Murders: +3% year-to-date
- Shootings: +4% year-to-date
- Car theft: +9% year-to-date
👉 These are no longer “recovering” — they are above last year
Short-term spike (last 7 days)
Murders: +250%
Shootings: +9%
📊 Last 28 days (trend confirmation)
Murders: +32%
Shootings: +12%
Motor vehicle theft: +8%
👉 This is not one bad week — it’s multiple weeks of increases
🧠 Big picture
Week 11 → trend flipped
Week 12 → acceleration
Week 13 → increase begins
Week 14 → increase established
👉 That’s not noise — that’s active upward pressure
Sources:
Week 14 Public Safety Report (30 March – 05 April 2026)
https://chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/1_PDFsam_Public-Safety-Report-Public-Version-2026-Week-14.pdf
Week 13 Public Safety Report (23 March – 29 March 2026)
https://chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/1_PDFsam_Public-Safety-Report-Public-Version-2026-Week-13.pdf
Week 12 Public Safety Report (16 March – 22 March 2026)
https://chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/1_PDFsam_Public-Safety-Report-Public-Version-2026-Week-12.pdf
Week 11 Public Safety Report ( 09 March – 15 March 2026)
https://chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/1_PDFsam_Public-Safety-Report-Public-Version-2026-Week-11.pdf
Chicago Police Department Crime Statistics Portal
https://chicagopolice.org/statistics-data/crime-statistics/
Chicago Police Department Data Portal
https://chicagopolice.org/data-statistics/
