October 14, 2021 Public Safety Committee
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON GUN VIOLENCE AND COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL AGENCIES
WHEREAS, Fatal shootings in Chicago accounted for 90% of all City homicides in 2020, and as of October 3, 94% of all City homicides in 2021; and
WHEREAS, over 3600 people have been shot in 2021, and over 1500 carjackings have occurred;
WHEREAS, While the Chicago Police Department is on pace to take over 12,000 guns off the City's streets this year, in many cases, guns involved in shootings around the City are legally purchased before illegally changing hands to beused for illicit activities and terrorizing the City's communities; and
WHEREAS, Strategies to curb the number of illegally obtained weapons have either not been implemented or have proven ineffective; and
WHEREAS, Local agencies responsible for the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders and the safety of the City's residents have seemingly worked at cross-purposes in recent months; and
WHEREAS, Effective crime reduction strategies require an aligned system of justice - local agencies must resolve their differences and develop a collaborative, cross-government approach to public safety to ensure the wellbeing of the City's residents remains at the forefront of any and all public safety agendas; and
WHEREAS, A cross-government approach to crime reduction will allow for the processes among government entities to become more efficient and fair, for example: strengthening communication and information sharing amongst the various offices and agencies that comprise the criminal justice system; targeted investments both in our respective elements of the criminal justice system as well as programs that benefit communities and decrease the overall level of violent crimes; reviewing existing pre-trial services and supervision programs; ensuring proper enforcement of revoked FOID cards; reviewing the processes in place for coordination amongst law enforcement agencies regarding pre-trial release, probation, parole and release from incarceration; identifying areas to strengthen state and federal laws, and organizing joint lobbying efforts for reform; and
WHEREAS, The City should spearhead an effort to ensure all applicable local, State, and federal agencies are acting in concert to marshal their resources, develop strategies, and effectively execute plans of action to keep residents safe; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this fourteenth day of October, 2021, do hereby call upon the Committee on Public Safety to convene a hearing to investigate how best to combat gun violence in the City and how to foster cooperation among local agencies responsible for the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call upon representatives who have knowledge on the subject matter to appear and testify at the hearing from the following agencies: the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Chicago Field Division; the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Cook County State's Attorney's Office; the Cook County Sheriffs Office; the Chicago Police Department; and Chicago's Office of Public Safety Administration.
Adding Co-Sponsor(s)
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Alderman Daniel La Spata ^M^/Af^J (LJ Ward)
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Alderman ; (I IWard)
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■'I'ili-M Oku
Date Filed: October 25,2021 Principal Sponsor: v
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Alderman (I I Ward)
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Alderman (I | Ward)
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Date Filed:
Final Copies To Be Filed With: • Chairman of Committee to which legislation was referred
• City Clerk
121 NORTH LASALLE STREET, ROOM 107, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602