Publicly Accessible Data

The Chicago Police Department makes available aggregate data regarding crime in Chicago and selected operations of the Chicago Police Department. Available reports include Chicago Police Department Annual Reports, monthly and quarterly crime summaries, and publications on special topics. The Chicago Police Department has recently also begun creating data dashboards with adjustable data visualizations and downloadable data. To locate statistical reports and data dashboards, look at the various links under “Statistics & Data”

Additionally, Crime data is available via the City of Chicago Data Portal at https://data.cityofchicago.org
Lastly, the Chicago Police Department provides the general public with direct access to unofficial crime data through an internet application known as CLEARmap.
CLEARmap can be accessed by visiting https://clearmap-chicagopd.hub.arcgis.com/. The CLEARmap site allows users to view and analyze up to fourteen days of preliminary crime-incident data over the most recently available 90-day time period.

 

Data Requests 

There are a few ways to request information/data depending on the situation and specific data requested. 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows someone to request existing documents and information from any public body.  For more information, click here https://home.chicagopolice.org/information/freedom-of-information-act-foia/ or submit a request directly here https://Chicago.gov/publicrecords  

All media request must go through FOIA. Office of Communications may also be contacted at [email protected]

Jeanne Clery Act 

The Jeanne Clery Act is a law that requires Universities to provide information about crimes occurring on and near campuses.  The Chicago Police Department provides data to the Universities who then disseminate that data in ways that comply with the law.  Colleges and Universities may request data from the CPD by sending an email with an attached letter on the organizations letterhead to [email protected]. 

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) 

Entities that wish to do research with CPD data may request that an NDA be initiated.  An NDA includes provisions that specify means of securely storing CPD data, prohibit unauthorized sharing of the data, and establish a specific timeline for destruction of the data. 

NDAs can be initiated through the Data Fulfillment and Analysis Section and finalized through the Office of Legal Affairs.  To request an NDA, send a detailed email to [email protected] including: exact information/data soughtexact time periods, locations, and any other additional search factors or requirements.  Additionally, please detail the intended use of the data as well as the anticipated title of any publication produced or the nature of the product.   

NDAs take time.  The approval process is rigorous and the amount and complexity of the information/data requested can take a significant amount of time.   

Law Enforcement and Corrections Agencies

All requests from Law Enforcement Agencies for background checks, case reports, or information about a specific person or case should contact the Chicago Police Department Records Division at (312) 745-5130 for further instructions. The request can be faxed 312-745-6948 or emailed to [email protected]. The request should be on agency letterhead and must include the agencies ORI #.

Other Data Requests 

In some situations, for non-FOIA data requests and requests other than background checks regarding individual people, the Data Fulfillment and Analysis Section may be able to work with a requester to provide information/data.  This may be useful for someone who does not need an NDA and would need to work with a data analyst to discuss options.  In this situation, email [email protected] with as much detail as possible.  These requests will be looked at when an analyst is available. 

 

Data Request Guidelines 

When making a request for data, it is important to be as clear as possible to ensure you receive what you intended.  Below are some guidelines to include in a data request 

  • Data type (e.g., arrests, criminal or non-criminal incidents, victims, offenders). 
  • Crime type/category, if applicable (e.g., criminal sexual assaults, motor vehicle thefts, arsons, robberies)(See Crime Categories below for a list) 
  • Arrest type, if applicable (e.g., general category such as Crime Category (See Definitions below) or specific state statutes or municipal codes) 
  • Time Frame (e.g., all arrests that occurred between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2019) 
  • Geographic location(s) (e.g., citywide, specific CPD District(s) or Beat(s)). 
  • Examples 
  • “I would like to request the number of incidents of arsons, thefts, and simple assaults for Districts 7, 2, and 3 for 2018 and 2019.” 
  • “I am seeking the number of arrests made for criminal sexual assaults in Beat 1213 for January – June of 2019 by month.” 

Other available options 

The CPD data collects some types of data that may be useful.  Below are some options: 

  • Location Types – all crime locations are categorized by type, for example: Residential House, Street, Bank, Alley, etc.  For a complete list, please visit the Department Directives System at Directives.ChicagoPolice.org and search for location codes under Resources. 
  • If you’re request is not for a specific address or do not know the specific address for something, Location Type will help in narrowing down so you can get the information you seek without extraneous items. 
  • Crime Category – The CPD follows the FBI crimes categories For example, the highest crime is Murder, followed by Criminal Sexual Assault.  These are also grouped into Index and Non-Index crimes.  The Definitions below contain descriptions of Index crimes.  A full list of FBI Categories used by the CPD is below. 

 

Crime Categories 

All crime classifications are grouped into the below categories for various reports and dashboards. 

Code  Description  Index  Violent/Property 
01A  HOMICIDE – 1ST OR 2ND DEGREE (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
01B  INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER / RECKLESS HOMICIDE W/ VEHICLE  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
02  CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
03  ROBBERY (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
04  AGGRAVATED ASSAULT / BATTERY (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
04A  AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
04B  AGGRAVATED BATTERY (INDEX)  INDEX  VIOLENT INDEX 
05  BURGLARY (INDEX)  INDEX  PROPERTY INDEX 
06  LARCENY – THEFT (INDEX)  INDEX  PROPERTY INDEX 
07  MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT (INDEX)  INDEX  PROPERTY INDEX 
08  SIMPLE ASSAULT / BATTERY  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
08A  SIMPLE ASSAULT  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
08B  SIMPLE BATTERY  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
09  ARSON (INDEX)  INDEX  PROPERTY INDEX 
10  FORGERY AND COUNTERFEITING  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
11  FRAUD  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
12  EMBEZZLEMENT  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
13  STOLEN PROPERTY: BUY, RECEIVE, POSSESS  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
14  VANDALISM  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
15  WEAPONS  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
16  PROSTITUTION  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
17  SEX OFFENSE – CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
18  DRUG ABUSE VIOLATIONS  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
19  GAMBLING  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
20  OFFENSES AGAINST FAMILY AND CHILDREN / INVOLVING CHILDREN  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
21  DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
22  LIQUOR LAWS  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
24  DISORDERLY CONDUCT  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
26  MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES  NON-INDEX  NON-INDEX 
MCC  MISCELLANEOUS MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS  MCC  MCC 
TRF  TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS  TRF  TRF 
WRT  WARRANT ARRESTS  WRT  WRT 
00  NON-CRIMINAL  NON-CRIMINAL  NON-CRIMINAL