>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND A PAIR OF SHOTS.

TONIGHT IS THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES WTW NEWS.

A SAFER CITY.

WE'RE DEVOTING OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM TO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY WILL ALSO BE PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR ONLINE COVERAGE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH SAFER CITY.

ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, WE EXPLORE THE PERSISTENT PROBLEM OF HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> CRIME IS FALLING NATIONWIDE.

BUT CHICAGO'S HOMICIDES ARE NOT DECLINING AS QUICKLY AS LA AND NEW YORK LOOK INTO WHY THAT COULD BE.

>> OVERWHELMINGLY WHAT SURVIVORS WANT ANSWERS.

WHY MY CHILD OR WHY MY HUSBAND MY LOVED ONE.

>> THE CHALLENGE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT FACE IN SOLVING HOMICIDES AND THE IMPACT UNSOLVED CASES HAVE ON FAMILIES.

>> AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SHARE HOW THEY'RE WORKING TO PREVENT CRIME IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WILL KICK OFF THOSE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOO LEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> CRIME OVERALL IS FALLING NATIONWIDE.

BUT THE NUMBERS ON THE MOST SERIOUS CRIME HOMICIDE SHOW CHICAGO'S CASES ARE NOT DECLINING AS QUICKLY AS THE 2 LARGEST CITIES IN THE NATION.

NEW YORK AND L A JUST WHY CHICAGO LAG BEHIND THE NATION'S 2 LARGEST CITIES AND HOMICIDE NUMBERS.

AND WHAT CAN THE CITY LEARN FROM THEM?

JOINING US, OUR ANDREW POPPA CHRISTMAS PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND KATE AND THE BABY WHO WAS ON THE FACULTY IN CRIMINOLOGY AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM, OUR JIM MCDONNELL, THE FORMER SHERIFF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND NOW DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS SAFE COMMUNITIES INSTITUTE AND SNYDER, RETIRED NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER ADJUNCT LECTURER AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NEW YORK AND POLICY DIRECTOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AT THE THINK TANK R STREET INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO LOOK AT THIS QUESTION FOR SO LONG BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SORT OF AND OR EXAMINE THE MEDIA COMPARING CHICAGO, NEW YORK AND LA CAN SHOW THAT LOOKING AT A HOMICIDE NUMBERS IN 1990, CHICAGO 8.49 NEW YORK CITY MORE THAN 2200 LOS ANGELES.

NEARLY 1000 LOOK AT HOW FAR NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES DROP CHICAGO DROP, BUT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH KAYLYN.

THE VENUES ARE ANY.

THERE EASY EXPLANATION FOR THAT?

>> YEAH, WELL, FOOT BOOK FOR STAFF.

SO THIS IS NUMBER OF SHEER HOMICIDES THE COUNT.

SO WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IN CRIMINOLOGY AND WHAT I THINK IS A BETTER ANALYSIS IS TO GROUND IT IN POPULATION.

SO WE DO NOW.

CHICAGO IS STILL MUCH ABOVE THE REST, BUT WE LIKE TO PUT HIM A CATEGORY WITH CITIES, THE SAME POPULAR.

CLEARLY THE RATES WERE SIMILAR IN THE 90'S AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE RATES IN NEW YORK AND LA WENT DOWN MUCH, MUCH GREATER THAN CHICAGO.

YES, THAT'S TRUE.

WE WE AT OF OUR CITIES, WE HAVE THE HOMICIDES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

LA IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK HAS ALWAYS SAID IT MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY WE STAND OUT WITH THAT.

AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT WHY LOOK AT UP, HISTORICAL POLICIES OF SOCIAL ISOLATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OF CONCENTRATED POVERTY THAT SPEAK TO NUMBERS THAT HAVE STUART HIP HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN HIGHER THAN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES.

JULIAN SNYDER, YOU ARE, OF COURSE, IN THE NYPD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE YOUR CITY, WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THERE WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHICAGO?

>> I DO WANT TO JUST POINT OUT THAT CHICAGO IS TRENDING DOWNWARD.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AND THEIR NUMBERS TO DATE.

AS OF LAST, WE DID GO DOWN.

BUT LOOKING AT THE NYPD COMPARED TO CHICAGO, WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD POLICE COMMISSIONER BRATTON COME ON IN THE 90'S AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE MOST NOVEL INITIATIVES THAT POLICE SAY HAD SEEN AT THAT TIME BROKEN WINDOWS.

METHODOLOGY CAME OUT.

WE STARTED REALLY FOCUSING LOWER-LEVEL OFFENSE IS QUALITY OF LIFE OFFENSE IS BECAUSE THE POINT IS NOT TO OVER ARREST BUT INSTEAD TO REALLY PUT FORTH THE COLLECTIVE EFFICACY THAT GIVES NEIGHBORHOODS THE THE REASON THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE.

AND I THINK IT WAS PIVOTAL IN THAT MOVEMENT.

JIM MCDONNELL, WHAT ABOUT LOS ANGELES?

A VERY LARGE DROP.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LONG TERM.

>> COMPARED TO CHICAGO, WHAT WHAT WENT RIGHT THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE IN LOS ANGELES BACK IN 93 WHERE WE HAD JUST UNDER 1100 VOTERS, I BELIEVE ONLY FINISHED UP 2019 WITH 252 MURDERS.

THAT'S ABOUT AN 80% DECREASE IN NOT IN HOMICIDES IN JUST ONE CITY.

AND YET NOBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT ON THE GREAT FOUNDATION.

WE HADN'T CONTINUED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WHAT WE'VE SINCE THAT TIME, BOTH 2020 IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN CRIME GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR REASONS THAT WERE PREDICTABLE.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK COMPARING CITIES FOR FOR HOMICIDE, FOR VIOLENT CRIME AND FOR OTHER CRIMES, THERE'S IT'S A NUANCED SITUATION.

AND I THINK THERE'S A TENDENCY TO USE IT AS A SOUND BITE.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLICE AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE, A SUCCESSOR OR NOT SO MUCH, POLICE ARE JUST ONE PART OF THE OVERALL EQUATION.

YOU'VE GOT PROSECUTORS.

YOU'VE GOT JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE THE POLITICAL CLIMATE TO DO ALL OPERATE IN WHAT'S ENFORCED.

WHAT'S NOT ENFORCE?

WHAT'S OKAY TODAY WITH THAT BEFORE AND VICE VERSA.

SO OPERATE IN AN ECOSYSTEM AND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE POLICE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC AND DON'T GET A FAIR SHAKE IN THEIR MIND FROM THE MEDIA.

THE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU'LL SEE IS SOMETHING IS FAIRLY PREDICTABLE.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT FOLKS 2020 AND IN CERTAIN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA.

>> AND REPUBLIC RISTOW SAY THAT PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM IS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF THE CITY CHICAGO A VERY DIFFERENT CITY THAN LA NEW YORK.

DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE DIFFERENCE HERE?

VERY MUCH OF THIS DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, SO IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THESE ARE POINTING OUT AROUND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIONS THAT HAPPENED, SPACES, NEW YORK IS A GENTRIFIED LARGE PARTS OF NEW YORK, MASSIVE PARTS OF MANHATTAN.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT BROOKLYN AND THE BRONX LOOKED LIKE IN THE 1990'S, EVEN WE LOOK THERE TODAY, IT'S CHANGED.

IT'S STILL VERY SEGREGATED, BUT START OF SEGREGATED CHICAGO OTHER CHANGES THAT HAPPEN IN LOS ANGELES.

IN ADDITION TO CHANGING SERVING CONTEST, THEY WERE UNDER A CONSENT DECREE AND CHANGED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT CITIES LIKE CHICAGO ONLY DOING RIGHT NOW.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE EFFORTS.

THE OTHER THING THAT LOS ANGELES DID VERY, VERY WELL, 15, 20 YEARS AGO WAS BRINGING TOGETHER SORT THE MEANS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT?

SO THEY HAD AN OFFICE, THE GREAT OFFICE WHICH LOOKED AT BRINGING TOGETHER, SAY STREET OUTREACH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REALLY COORDINATING THINGS IN MUCH DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU ONLY SEEING NOW CITIES LIKE LIKE CHICAGO AND ONE FINAL THING, WE CANNOT SAY IS THAT GAMES IN NEW YORK WERE NEVER SORT OF HIS INSTITUTIONALIZED AS LA OR CHICAGO FOR STUFF THAT THEY DID IN THE 60'S AND 70'S.

THEY HAVE GREAT.

THEY HAVE GANGS.

THEY HAVE CREWS.

BUT WHAT CHICAGO AND ATLANTA LOOKED LIKE IN THE 90'S WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

NEW YORK IS THE WEIRD ONE HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOLIDAY BECAME SAFE, THEY'RE VERY, VERY UNIQUE AND THEY HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AT ONE TIME COUNT OF ANY.

ARE THERE LESSONS HERE THAT CHICAGO CAN TAKE FROM NEW YORK OR LA AND APPLIED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE.

>> TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR TO THE GENERAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT HERE.

I THINK JUST GENERALLY WHEN I LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF POLICIES IN NEW YORK, THEY CREATED HOUSING POLICIES IN WHICH THEY DIDN'T PUT EFFORT INTO CONCENTRATED POVERTY, RACIALIZED POVERTY IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE.

>> HOUSE AND PUBLIC POLICIES THAT TOOK THAT CREATED HOUSING IN ONE AREA BECAME CONCENTRATED AND THEN WE MOVED OUT FROM THEIR NEW YORK DOING THE SAME THE SAME WAY.

SO WHEN WE TAKE LESSONS, IT'S HOW DO WE TREAT COMMUNITIES FROM A HOLISTIC WAY THAT BECOMES ANTI-VIOLENCE.

HOW DO WE TREAT THEM TERMS OF POLICY HEALTH CARE, FOOD AT ALL OF THESE POLICIES THAT HOLISTICALLY ARE ANTI-VIOLENCE APPROACHES.

JOIN US LATER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHICAGO AND NATIONAL MEDIA KIND OF GET SET TAGGED WITH BEING.

>> THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IT'S PRETTY ERRONEOUS BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT PER CAPITA, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IT USUALLY DOESN'T EVEN CRACK THE TOP 10.

SO SO IN TERMS OF PER CAPITA CHICAGO NOT AS VIOLENT AS MAYBE SOME POOR TRAILS OF IT ARE.

>> NO, YOU'RE ACTUALLY CORRECT ACTUALLY THE MOST RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WASHINGTON, D.C., BALTIMORE CHATTING THE DALLAS, NASHVILLE, MEMPHIS, THOSE CITIES, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT AND YOU ARE CONTROLLING FOR POPULATION DENSITY, CHICAGO IS LOWER THAN ALL OF THEM IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME HOMICIDE RATE.

>> JIM MCDONNELL IS OR DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF HOW ALL THE CITIES ARE REPORTING THESE NUMBERS.

I KNOW THERE'S A SORT OF SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE BY THE FBI RECENT YEARS.

>> YEAH, FBI IN ASK THAT EVERYBODY BE ON BOARD.

IT'S A VOLUNTARY SYSTEM.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO COMPLY WITH THAT.

IT'S THE NATIONAL REPORTING THAT NEITHER IS THE NATIONAL INCIDENT BASED REPORTING SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS WHICH GO BACK ALMOST 100 YEARS WOULD BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF CRIMES.

IT COUNT ALL CRIMES, NOT JUST THE THE PRIMARY CRIME IN PARTICULAR INCIDENT.

IT CAN.

IT ADDRESSES MANY AS 10 CRIMES AND IN CAPTURE THE DATA ON THAT THE CHALLENGES IT'S MUCH MORE LABOR INTENSIVE TO BE ABLE TO INPUT THE DATA NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RESULTS.

YOU WANT TO GET AND GET THAT GRANULAR LEVEL OF DETAIL AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE IN, YOU KNOW, PRIOR 2021, WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED, EVERYBODY BE ON BOARD.

WE DIDN'T SEE THAT.

WE SAW ABOUT 60% OR SO OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ON BOARD.

SO HAD 2 DIFFERENT CRITERIA BEING USED TO BE ABLE TO CRAFT CAPTURE CRIME THE PROBLEM WAS IT WASN'T THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON BOARD WAS RESOURCES RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION BECAME A BIG ISSUE.

POST 2020, BOTH ON THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THIS ONE SIDE.

AND SO THERE WAS A HESITANCE THERE TO BE ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE OFF THE STREET IN SOME CASES TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS JOB DONE AND THEY DIDN'T BECOME A PRIORITY OF THAT NATURE.

WE STILL HAVE THE ISSUES WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO CHALLENGES JUST IN THE LOGISTICS OF BEING ABLE TO GET THAT DONE.

BUT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THEN ANDREW, PAPA CHRIS TOASTY.

WE TALKED ABOUT PRETTY MUCH MOST CITIES HAVE SEEN A DROP IN HOMICIDES SINCE THE SPIKE IN THE PANDEMIC HERE AS THAT SOMETHING TO THAT CHICAGO CAN HANG ITS HAT ON OR IS IT JUST KIND OF JUST HAPPENING REGARDLESS OF POLICY?

NO, I THINK CHICAGO'S BUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO SORT OF SET ACTUALLY SCOTIA PUTTING OUT AFTER 2016 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IN FACT, THOSE DIVIDENDS, I THINK PAID OFF DURING COVID AND ONE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, A PARTNER TEAMS.

ANALYSIS SHOWED, YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SET OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED.

THE RATE WOULD MUCH HIGHER.

HAD THEY NOT BEEN IN PLACE.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT COVID.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

ALWAYS BE A LITTLE ASTERIX.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS IF SOME OF THESE THINGS WERE PLACE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMICIDES SHOOTINGS GOING DURING COVID, I WENT TO REPORTING IN EACH OF THE NEIGHBORS TO SEE HOW MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE THERE.

AN ACTIVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF PUTTING A DENT IN THE IN THOSE NUMBERS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ALSO, BUT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MY THANKS TO JIM MCDONALD FROM LA SNYDER, NEW YORK.

AND THEN HERE IN CHICAGO CALLAND OF A KNEE AT THE POLLEN.

ANDREW POPPA CHRISTMAS FROM NORTHWESTERN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THERE ARE 617 HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR, ACCORDING THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MANY OF THOSE CASES CAN GO UNSOLVED, LEAVING FAMILIES IN LIMBO.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW FROM PILLS AND TO SHARE ONE MOTHER'S JOURNEY TO GETTING JUSTICE AND THE CHALLENGES IN SOLVING THESE CRIMES.

JOANNA.

>> PARIS, THAT MOTHER'S SON WAS COOL.

PEOPLE GOT THE 21 YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED HERE LAST YEAR.

HIS MOTHER HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ANSWERS EVER SENT BY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL PROCESS AND THE LAYERS.

IT TAKES TO FIND THE PERSON WHO KILLED HER SON.

>> I MEAN MEANT THE NO SUPRIYA THIS.

BUT THE ONLY THE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG ON THE WAY UP.

WE HAVE A BIT OF INNOCENT.

>> MANAEA PULLED A SHARES PICTURES OF HER YOUNG SON, KOBE WHO WAS KILLED OCTOBER 14TH LAST YEAR.

BENNETT.

>> CAN A PERSON THAT COME TALK WILL BE NO SUPPORT GET MY FULL?

PUT GOAL.

MEET UP HIM FOR MONTH PUT ONE UP OF WE WANT HAVE ANOTHER WAY OF THE GHOST BUT WILL SUPPORT THEY SAY ON THE NEW MIKU.

>> BUT HE REMEMBERS HER SON AS A CAR ENTHUSIAST.

SHE SAYS HE OFTEN SPENT HOURS IN THE GARAGE, TAKING CARS APART AND REBUILDING THEM.

WHAT IS THE PART GULF AND TO COOK ME WHOLE.

HE WANT TO CUT DOWN OF USC.

POLICE SAY 21 YEAR-OLD KOBY PEOPLE GO WAS KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING.

ACCORDING TO POLICE.

IT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHEN KOBE WAS SHOT.

MULTIPLE TIMES NEAR 19TH STREET AND POLINA IN PILSEN.

BUT THE STOCK IN SO I >> NOTICE ON A SECOND IS THAT BUT THE GUN, THE CULLMAN.

KNOW, TOOK A BITE US THAT AND IS THE BE A SIGN OF BOTTLE.

YES, BUT MADE A CEMENT.

>> KOBE NEVER MADE IT BACK HOME AS THE CASE REMAINS OPEN, HIS FAMILY IS LEFT TO COPE WITH THE TRAUMA PROCESS.

CATHERINE BOCANEGRA HAS DEDICATED HER WORK TO UNDERSTAND OVERWHELMINGLY WHAT SURVIVORS WANT ANSWERS.

WHY MY CHILD OR WHY MY HUSBAND LET MY LOVED ONE.

>> WHY DID THAT BULLET HIT MY?

THE PERSON WHO I LOVE.

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE BEHIND IT?

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

AND THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO FAMILIES WANT ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE PROCESS THAT THEY CANNOT CONTROL BOOK.

AND HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE.

ESTABLISHING SAFETY IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR FAMILIES LOST LOVED ONES OF VIOLENCE.

THAT THE SECOND PART IS DEFINITELY GOING TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCESS OF A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

OVER THE YEARS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATES.

>> HAVE DECLINED IN MOST CASES, CLEARLY A CRIME MEANS POLICE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE CHARGE.

AT LEAST ONE SUSPECT.

IN 2014, NEARLY 40% OF CASES WERE CLOSED FOR HOMICIDES INVOLVING FIREARMS LAST YEAR.

THAT NUMBER WAS CLOSE TO 20%.

RETIRED CPD CHIEF OF DETECTIVES, EUGENE ROY SAYS SEVERAL FACTORS GO INTO INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING AND HOMICIDE.

ONE OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IS THE FACT THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> A TREE IS ONLY ASSIGNED 7% OF ITS SWORN COMPLIMENT POLICE OFFICERS DETECTIVES.

NOW THAT'S BEING COMPARED TO NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES.

>> WHICH BOTH HAVE 14 TO 15% OF THEIR SWORN OFFICERS ASSIGNED AS DETECTIVES.

ANOTHER CRITICAL FACTOR THAT ROY SAYS AFFECTS THE PACE OF INVESTIGATIONS.

>> IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS.

OFFICERS IN THE BEACH OR GOING FROM CALL TO CALL TO CALL THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES PLAYS A BIG PART IN SOLVING A CASE.

ROY SAYS PEOPLE WHO WITNESS A HOMICIDE ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO TALK TO THE POLICE BECAUSE COOK COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

FOR YEARS.

CITY LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR ONE LOCAL NATIVES SAYS IT WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR DETECTIVES AND FAMILIES SEEKING JUSTICE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

OUR WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> AND NOW THERE IS A GRANT AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE 2 IMPORTANT STEPS.

THE 3RD STEP IS INCREDIBLY CRITICAL, WHICH IS WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY 5 MONTHS IN SCHOOL.

PEOPLE THAT DIED.

AND DESPITE A $15,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION, THE FAMILY IS STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS.

>> YOU KNOW, OUT IN OTHER AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I MOMENT OUT HOPE IT'LL WITH ACQUITTAL NOT BUS, GETTING IT WOULD THE ALSO FREE AND WILL AND THAT THAT'S NOT GOING LET ME THEM EQUAL AND THE COMMOTION AND THAT GOT THROUGH BROKEN.

HAS EXPERIENCED THE PAST TO OBTAIN JUSTICE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY FAMILY.

JUSTICE INVOLVED SYSTEMS CHAINS.

>> AND I HEARD THIS FROM MANY FAMILY MEMBERS IS THAT JUSTICE INVOLVES.

I'M CHANGING THE WAY THAT DETECTIVES INTERACT WITH THE FAMILIES THAT PROSECUTORS INTERACT WITH FAMILIES LONG LIVE KOBE STICKERS WITH AN IMAGE OF A CAR CAN BE SEEN ALONG 19 STREET.

A REMINDER OF THE DAY THAT MEDEA SAYS CHANGED HER FAMILY'S LIFE FOREVER THAT GO POLICE TO ARREST HIM.

LOOK AT THE ON.

THEY WILL COME A LOOK AT THAT LEVEE THEM EQUAL THOSE WHEN YOU.

>> PROGRAM IS GOING TO MINUTE PHONE.

LITTLE SUN.

>> I FROM YOU.

>> AND REGARDING THE PACE AND SUCCESS OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, FORMER DETECTIVE ROY ALSO MENTIONED IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT WITH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND DETECTIVES HAVE A LOCATION TO WORK ON CASES FROM DAY ONE REPORTING FROM PILSEN ON JOHN HERNANDEZ.

BACK TO YOU.

BRANDIS.

JOANNA, THANK YOU.

MORE THAN 80% OF HOMICIDES IN 2023 WERE ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

ACCORDING TO CITY DATA.

>> A DEEPER LOOK SHOWS WEST GARFIELD PARK WITH 48 HOMICIDES IN NEARBY COMMUNITY AREAS.

NOT SO FAR BEHIND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOCUSING ON THESE AREAS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THOSE MOST IMPACTED IN AN EFFORT TO STOP CYCLES OF VIOLENCE.

JOINING US NOW, OUR ADAM ALONSO CEO OF BUILT CHICAGO AND MICAH BATTLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BRIDGE TO FEED FREEDOM.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

ALONZO BUILDS PROGRAMS.

YOU WITH A LOT OF YOUTH.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE SERVES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE RATES IN WE'RE BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, WERE BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS WERE GETTING TO KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE DEVELOPMENTAL SORT OF CONTINUE ON RIGHT.

>> AND THE MORE YOU HAVE TIME TO INTERACT AND ENGAGE AND LISTEN TO A YOUNG PERSON, YOU HELP THEM TO NAVIGATE SOME OF THE TOUGH PARTS OF LIFE OF JUST GROWING UP BEING A TEENAGER.

IF YOU THINK BACK TO OUR TIMES IS NOT AN EASY TIME AND YOUNG PEOPLE GOING UP TODAY REALLY NEED SOMEONE BY THEIR SIDE AS A MENTOR AND SO BUILD REALLY FOCUSES ITS WORK THINKING ABOUT HOW SOON COULD WE ACTUALLY MEET THEM?

WALK WITH THEM SIDE BY SIDE CONNECT WITH THEIR THEIR PARENTS, UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS, MAYBE IN THE FAMILY SO THAT IT'S A WHERE IS THE TEAM WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP THIS YOUNG PERSON BE THEIR BEST?

>> HOW DO YOU WORK WITH KIDS WHO MAY HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED SOME TRAUMA TO HELP THEM RECOVER?

SURE.

SO IT FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST TO BE THERE TO LISTEN SEE HOW THEY'RE FEELING WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.

>> WE CONNECT OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OUR CLINICAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED COUNSELING.

BUT SOMETIMES JUST SOMEONE TO LISTEN.

WE PROVIDE THEM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THAT CAN BE THERAPEUTIC AND OF ITSELF FOR USE.

ART AS A IS THAT THEY'RE PRETTY TOOL AS WELL.

AND OFTENTIMES WE FIND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING THERE WITH A BRUSH OR PENCIL IN YOUR HEAD CAN ACTUALLY START TO UNLOCK SOME THINGS THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT WITH ONE OF THE MENTORS WHO IS THERE IN OUR ROOM WITH THEM.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO TREAD LIGHTLY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM RELIVE ALL OF THE FEELINGS AND TRAUMA IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND ASKED SOMEONE TO OPEN UP AND SHARE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED BECAUSE IT IS HARD.

AND SO YOU CAREFULLY WEIGHT, IT'S WHATEVER PERSON FEELS READY TO START TO SHARE YOU LITTLE BITS AT A TIME UNTIL THEY GAIN CONFIDENCE AND FEEL DIFFERENT AND BETTER AND ULTIMATELY WORK TOWARDS HEALING.

>> MICAH BATTLE.

YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK YOU WORK WITH MANY FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING THEIR COMMUNITIES.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY COME HOME.

>> WELL, THEY'RE EXPERIENCING MANY DON'T FAMILIES AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENTS CAN GO BACK SOUTH BRIDGE TO FREEDOM IS THAT CATALYST FOR THE PLACE FOR SO WE PROVIDE HOUSING FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME HOME FROM PRISON.

BUT THAT HOUSING COMPONENT COMES ANGER MANAGEMENT LICE DOWN DIRECTIONS, TRAUMA DRUG WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RESUME WRITING AS I HEARD THEM SAYING, ALL WE ALSO DO ARE BECAUSE SOMETIMES EASIER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO IN ART OR IN SPOKEN WORD OR JOURNALING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

8 OUT OF 10 HAVE ARE BEHIND BARS, DRUG ADDICTIONS TAKE WERE HIGH WHEN THEY COMMITTED THEIR CRIME OR THEY COMMIT CRIME TO GET SO THE REHABILITATION ART IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR REHABILITATION IN WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WRAP AROUND SERVICES ARE NECESSARY.

THEY'RE MICAH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT MIGHT LEAD TO RECIDIVISM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REENTERING?

WHAT IS SOME OF THE I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT MIGHT LEAD TO RECIDIVISM.

>> WELL, DRUG TRAUMAS UNRESOLVED TRAUMAS THAT DIDN'T GET RESOLVED.

SO I LIKE I SAID, WE DO THE TRAUMA I'M NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND A JOB EDUCATION.

WE ALSO HAVE A GED PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE ONLINE COLLEGE COURSE.

AND WE ALSO APPRENTICESHIPS ARE LIKE CARPENTRY, ELECTRICITY, PLUMBING, BUT INVESTORS BECAUSE WE HAVE A COFFEE SHOP AND STAGE HANDS BECAUSE WE HAVE A THEATER AND WRITERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

EMPLOYMENT IS A BIG AREA AS WELL.

>> I'M ADAM BUILD IS IN THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD WERE JUST DISCUSSING THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

BUT WEST GARFIELD PARK, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY AREA NOT TOO FAR.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THE AREA THAT IS MOST IMPACTED BY HOMICIDES LAST YEAR.

AND OF COURSE, WE COULD.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT THE MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT AUSTIN AS WELL.

BUT HOW DOES VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ONE COMMUNITY IMPACT IN NEIGHBORING BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

AND SO YOU HAVE.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER AS HE WAS THERE TO COMMIT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE OR HIDING BACK AFTER THEY'VE DONE THAT RIGHT.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WE SEVERAL PROGRAMS, ALLOW ENTRY SCHOOLS AND IT REALLY TRY TO LAY DOWN SOME ROOTS THERE TO HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES AND YOUNG WELL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT WERE AT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE A COUPLE HOMICIDES THAT HAPPENED DURING A SCHOOL DAY.

AND YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ACT OF TRAUMA AND NOW YOU'RE BEING LOCKED DOWN IN YOUR SCHOOL AND YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE AND THERE'S A LARGE POLICE PRESENCE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLY WORK ON MOTHER EARLIER ON.

SO WITH ME COULD GET SOME.

THEY'RE COMING OUT FROM HAVING BEEN SPENT TIME INCARCERATED.

BUT AT NO POINT, DID ANYONE REALLY TRY TO HELP MANY GET SOME OF THE TRAUMA THAT THEY FELT RIGHT?

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FULL SPECTRUM FROM US, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THEM EARLY TO 13 YEARS AND BEYOND BECAUSE PICKING THEM UP AFTER THEY'VE HAD A LONG STINT PERHAPS AND THAT ALL THE TRAUMA THAT'S BUILT UP FROM BEING INCARCERATED ADDED ON TO THE FACT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MAY BE GETTING TO THAT POINT OF INCARCERATION.

SO IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US WHO ARE TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK?

>> SOME OF THE RESOURCES IS ALWAYS FUNDING GRANT FUNDING DONATIONS, FUNDING, FUNDING, FUNDING AND NETWORKING IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE BUILD AND OTHER PLACES THAT LAY THEM GIVE RESOURCES OR HELP TO TRAIN THEM.

AND ALSO MEANT TOOLS.

WE NEED MENTORS AND CHURCHES TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME THEM AND NOT JUDGE.

WHEN THEY COME HOME TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND THEY AND, YOU INSTEAD OF BEEN MENACES TO SOCIETY TO BECOME CITIZENS IN SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY ARE RETURNING CITIZENS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF COMING FROM BOTH OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS.

GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

THANKS FOR SHARING WITH US WHAT YOU DO OUT ALONSO AND YOU CAN BATTLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

>> BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR ONGOING PUBLIC SAFETY COVERAGE ONLINE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH SAFER CITY AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M PARIS SHOTS AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FROM THAT HE'S PROUD TO BE A MULTI-LINGUAL LAW FIRM THAT PROVIDES