Association between youth homicides and state spending: a Chicago cross-sectional case study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo identify contributing factors associated with rapid spikes and declines in Chicago youth homicide from 2009 to 2018.SettingCity of Chicago, Illinois, US 2009–2018.ParticipantsHomicide count data come from the National Violent Death Reporting System. The study included information on 2271 homicide decedents between the ages of 15 and 24 who died between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2018. Of these decedents, 92.9% were male; 79.1% were non-Hispanic black; and 94.9% died from a firearm injury.Primary and secondary outcome measures(A) Temporal shifts in monthly homicide rates and (B) temporal associations between social, environmental and economic conditions/events and fluctuations in homicides.ResultsWe found statistically significant shifts in homicide rates over time: a 77% rise in monthly youth homicide rates per 100 000 persons from 2015 to 2016 (4.3 vs 7.5); dropping back to pre-2015 rates (4.3) by mid-2017. There was a temporal co-occurrence between the rapid rise in youth homicides and absence of a state budget. Conversely, we found a temporal co-occurrence of the sharp decline in homicides with the reinstatement of a state budget. Adjusting for seasonality, we found death rates were greater in the months without a budget compared with months with a budget (1.48, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.70).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that state funding may be a potential protective factor against youth homicide.