A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty and unemployment also had higher rates of gun violence, as cited in this Michigan Chronicle article discussing crime rates in Detroit during the summer months.
According to the Detroit Police Department’s crime statistics, the rise in gun violence during the summer months is a consistent pattern, irrespective of the school calendar. In fact, the data shows no significant correlation between the end of the school year and the increase in gun-related incidents.
The assumption that school breaks are the primary cause of increased gun violence oversimplifies a complex issue. It fails to consider the multifaceted factors that contribute to the surge in violence, such as socio-economic disparities, lack of access to quality education and employment opportunities and systemic issues within our criminal justice system.