Date of Conferral

9-2-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gregory Campbell

Abstract

Law enforcement agencies face ongoing organizational and resource challenges, yet there is limited research on how changes in police funding relate to crime rates and violent crime. There has been increased public awareness concerning police related encounters with civilians, and this has intensified debates about reducing law enforcement budgets. Current literature indicates that although police funding, staffing, and community trust are closely associated with public safety outcomes, empirical evidence on the relationship between police budget reductions and changes in violent crime and overall crime rates remains limited and insufficient to support definitive policy conclusions. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether changes in police funding were associated with crime rates, including violent crime, in Chicago, Illinois. Drawing on Robert Putnam’s social capital theory, this study examined how funding levels may relate to broader community outcomes. A longitudinal correlational design was used to analyze the relationship among police budgets, overall crime rates, and violent crime trends over time. Secondary data were collected from the City of Chicago budget records and crime data sources, covering the 2010 to 2024 time period. The results of this study showed a statistically significant relationship between Chicago Police budgets and property crime rates, while the relationship between police funding and violent crimes was mixed. The social change implications of this study include informing key policymakers and law enforcement leaders as they consider policy decisions related to law enforcement funding and community initiatives.

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