Study Links Vacant Chicago Schools to 10% Rise in Gun Violence
A study by the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found a 10% increase in gun violence in Chicago neighborhoods surrounding schools that closed in 2013 and remained vacant. The study analyzed gun crime data…
Miami Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 23, 2026 —
A recent study indicates a significant increase in gun violence in Chicago neighborhoods that surround schools closed in 2013 and subsequently became vacant. The research, a collaboration between the University of Chicago and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, identified a 10% rise in gun violence in these specific areas.
The study meticulously analyzed gun crime data spanning from 2010 to 2019. Researchers found that neighborhoods adjacent to these vacant schools experienced higher rates of gun violence when contrasted with similar areas where schools remained open.
According to the researchers, schools often function as vital anchors within their communities. The prolonged emptiness and disuse of these educational facilities appear to have weakened the social fabric of the surrounding neighborhoods, contributing to the observed escalation in violence.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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