The City of Chicago’s Implementation and Enforcement of the Gun Offender Registration Ordinance

Executive Summary

Initially passed in 2010 and amended in 2013, the Ordinance requires all Chicago residents who have been convicted of specific gun-related offenses to register with the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Per the Ordinance, CPD is responsible for notifying qualifying offenders of their duty to register, maintaining the public Gun Offender Registry, and enforcing registration requirements. The objectives of this inquiry were to describe the demographic profile and qualifying criminal offenses of the registrants on the Gun Offender Registry and to assess how effectively CPD and other involved agencies are fulfilling the mandates outlined in the Ordinance and provisions outlined in CPD policies, including providing notice to offenders and enforcing registration obligations.

As a result of this inquiry, OIG identified areas of concern regarding the current implementation and enforcement of the Gun Offender Registration Ordinance.