Chicago or Chi-raq: Evaluating the association between neighborhood segregation and crime in Chicago

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study variation in reported property and crime rates in Chicago neighborhoods because I wanted to understand how reported crime rates differ between segregated and integrated neighborhoods in order to understand whether the difference in racial composition is associated with reported crime rates. I completed the analysis using panel data from census data set estimates from 2005-2017 along with Comparability data from 2000/2010. Using random effect models, I found an association between the segregation score associated with a census tract and its total, violent, and property crime rate, but the results should be taken with slight consideration. While an association was found, more research must be done to disentangle the association segregation may have and other, unseen variables.