Authors : Leonard Anyan Darko

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/6xu34yfz

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25may875

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Gun violence has long been a critical issue in urban centers across the United States, with Chicago often at the forefront of discussions due to its persistent crime rates and socio-economic disparities. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of gun violence is essential for identifying high-risk areas, guiding policy interventions, and improving urban safety. This study examines gun violence trends in Chicago from 2001 to 2020, dividing the data into two key decades: 2001-2010 and 2011-2020. The goal is to uncover how these patterns evolved over time and to investigate possible socio-economic and demographic influences. [3] Using advanced GIS tools, including “Summarize Within,” “Hotspot Analysis,” and “Compare Hotspot Analysis,” this study identifies shifts in gun violence hotspots and explores changes in spatial patterns. Additionally, a percentage change analysis provides insights into the areas with the most significant increases or decreases in incidents. This analysis serves as a foundation for understanding the broader implications of gun violence and urban development in Chicago.

References :

1. City of Chicago, “Gun violence incident reports, 2001–2020,” City of Chicago Data Portal. [Online]. Available:  [1]
2. United States Census Bureau, “American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates,” Living Atlas of the World. [Online]. Available:  [2]
3. S. Chainey and J. Ratcliffe, GIS and Crime Mapping. Chichester, UK: Wiley, 2005.
4. N. Levine, CrimeStat IV: A Spatial Statistics Program for the Analysis of Crime Incident Patterns. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, 2015.
5. J. H. Ratcliffe, “The hotspot matrix: A framework for the spatio-temporal targeting of crime reduction,” Police Practice and Research, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 5-23, 2004. [5]
6. J. Hwang and R. J. Sampson, “Divergent pathways of gentrification: Racial inequality and the social order of renewal in Chicago neighborhoods,” American Sociological Review, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 726-751, 2014.