The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced crime in August continued a downward trend in 2023.

According to statistics released last week by the Chicago Police Department (CPD), which provides law enforcement across the CTA system, crimes decreased across the board during the month of August:

• Overall transit crime was down 12% year to date and 35% compared to August 2022,

• Violent crime was down 16% year to date, and 13% month to date (August 2023 vs. August 2022)

“I’m encouraged that the downward trends in crime we’ve seen have continued through the summer, at a time when ridership has reached the highest levels since the start of the pandemic,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “My hope is that the data helps reinforce to our riders and employees that the CTA is getting safer every day.”

CTA's Safety Efforts

The CTA works with CPD to deter crime on or near CTA properties and will also assist in investigations when a crime occurs.

CTA supplements CPD’s efforts with its network of more than 33,000 security cameras and with hundreds of personnel deployed across the system each day, around the clock, and who are trained and acutely focused on customer comfort and safety.

CTA also augments CPD efforts with contracted security guards and K-9 units, who focus on addressing issues like customer behavior and fare evasion, to prevent them from leading to other potentially illicit activities.