CTA crime declines in July

Aug. 11, 2023
According to statistics released by the Chicago Police Department, overall transit crime was down nine percent year to date and 21 percent compared to July 2022 and violent crime was down 13 percent year to date and 21 percent compared to July 2022.

Crime on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) declined in July.

According to statistics released by the Chicago Police Department (CPD), which provides law enforcement across the CTA system, crimes decreased across the board during July:

  • Overall transit crime was down 9 percent year to date and 21 percent compared to July 2022.
  • Violent crime was down 13 percent year to date, and 21 percent compared to July 2022.

“CTA is entrusted with providing more than 900,000 rides on average every week day, and it is my priority to ensure the safety of every single rider and employee,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “We know from the data that instances of crime on the system are rare, and this downward trend reflects the focus we have placed on reducing crime. As we’ve always done, we coordinate daily with CPD to deploy resources most effectively across the CTA system. Those efforts are paying off, but we’re committed to continuing to improve the quality of our customers’ experiences.”

The CTA works closely with CPD to deter crime on or near CTA properties and will also assist in investigations when a crime occurs. CTA supplements CPD’s efforts with its extensive network of more than 33,000 security-cameras and with hundreds of personnel deployed across the system each day, around the clock and who are trained and acutely focused on customer comfort and safety.

CTA also augments CPD efforts with contracted security guards and K-9 units, who focus on addressing issues like customer behavior and fare evasion, to prevent them from leading to other potentially illicit activities.