Chicago City Wire

In light of an analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times that saw a spike in violent crime coupled with the city's lowest arrest rate since 2001, state Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) blames Democratic-passed policies that he says tie the hands of law enforcement officials.

Stephens spoke out about the issue by sharing an article about the city's record-low arrest rate on social media.

"As long as criminals are emboldened by policies that prevent our police from acting, this crime wave will continue," Stephens wrote in a July 21 Facebook post. "Our police put on the uniform to serve our communities and they need our support. #BacktheBlue."

According to FOX 32 Chicago, arrests were made in just 12% of reported crimes last year, which was the lowest percentage in 22 years when associated data first started being released. The low number of arrests can be at least partially attributed to mandated changes within the department including restrictions established on pursuit policies. The "defund the police" movement and violent acts against law enforcement were some reasons police officers gave for fewer arrests. 

Hanna Meyers, director fo the Policing and Public Safety Initiative at the Manhattan Institute, told FOX 32 Chicago earlier in the year the protests and riots after the death of George Floyd, Michael Brown, and Freddie Gray and the spike in violence afterward has been termed the "Ferguson Effect." She noted police have tended to hold back following those instances. 

According to data from the Chicago Police Department there have been 347 murders, 1,422 shooting incidents, 1,100 criminal sexual assaults, 4,348 robberies, 3,075 aggravated batteries, 3,901 burglaries, 9,555 thefts, and 7,189 motor vehicle thefts reported in the city as of July 17.