WATCH: MPI’s Program Evaluation Team Gives Insights on Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, staff from Metropolitan Peace Initiatives’ (MPI) Program Evaluation team participated in a panel discussion and overview of the City of Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard.

The Violence Reduction Dashboard is a partnership between the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the city to measure fluctuations and reductions in violent incidents, and pinpoint where those incidents are occurring. The panel was kicked off by Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood, who emphasized the importance of being able to share data in real-time.

“We use the dashboard to understand how to best deploy resources,” Gatewood said. “I don’t just mean the men and women at Chicago Police Department, but our partners in Community Violence Intervention and victims services.”

Eric Balas, MPI Senior Data Analyst, discussed how the Violence Reduction Dashboard can be used to identify patterns in neighborhood conflicts, which can help street outreach organizations reach those most at risk of engaging in gun violence or becoming a victim.

“It requires a lot of delicate negotiation tactics, but also a lot of information,” Balas said. “And so it’s crucial to utilize a source where we can track where violence may have already occurred, alongside where conflicts are potentially erupting.”

Panelists also touted April 2025 as the least violent month Chicago has ever seen since 1962. Compared to last year at the same time, shooting victimizations are down 36.5 percent, with an overall 23 percent drop in violent crime across the city.

MPI Data Analyst Maritza Moran added, “The data from the dashboard is very informative to our work. We’re able to communicate our findings to our field managers and to the organizations on the ground doing the work.”

Watch the discussion below.