Search our database of 1,200+ summaries of randomized evaluations conducted by our affiliates in 99 countries. To browse key policy recommendations from a subset of these evaluations, visit the Policy Publications tab above.

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Person leans over desk with phone in hand

Costs of Failure to Appear for Arraignment

Natalia Emanuel
Helen Ho
Researchers will conduct a randomized evaluation to test the impact of different types of notifications on rates of failure to appear in traffic and criminal misdemeanor courts.
Man stands before judge in a courtroom.

Text Message Reminders Decreased Failure to Appear in Court in New York City

Brice Cooke
Binta Zahra Diop
Alissa Fishbane
Jonathan Hayes
Aurélie Ouss
Anuj Shah
Researchers partnered with policymakers in New York City to evaluate the impacts of a redesigned court summons form and text message reminders on failure to appear (FTA) in court. A randomized evaluation found that text message reminders were able to reduce FTA by up to 26 percent, translating to 3...
A person fills out a voter registration form on a table with an American flag.

The Impact of Targeted Mailers to Re-Engage US Voters with Criminal Convictions

Jennifer Doleac
Laurel Eckhouse
Eric Foster-Moore
Allison Harris
Hannah Walker
Ariel White
Researchers evaluated the impact of targeted mailings encouraging people with criminal records to register to vote on voting behavior in North Carolina. Mailers increased both voter registration and general election turnout among people with past criminal convictions.
A gloved hand holds a blue ORCA transit card in front of a bus stop where a bus is parked.

Can Transportation Subsidies Reduce Failures to Appear in Criminal Court?

Rebecca Brough
Matthew Freedman
Daniel E. Ho
David Phillips
Researchers partnered with local agencies in King County, Washington to evaluate the impact of providing transit subsidies on rates of FTA in court. While the study was disrupted due to Covid-19, the pilot results indicated that transit subsidies had little effect on reducing FTA.
Close up, business woman using mobile smart phone

The Effect of Text Message Reminders on Failure to Appear in Court in the Rural United States

Emily Owens
Carly Will Sloan
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of text message reminders on rates of failure to appear in court (FTA) among people who are unhoused and housed in rural Shasta County, California. The reminders reduced FTA rates for the housed population, but did not impact FTA rates...
Ugandan women in a support group on intimate partner violence in uganda

Women's Entrepreneurship and Intimate Partner Violence in Uganda

Jeannie Annan
Chris Blattman
Eric Green
Julian Jamison
An evaluation of a microenterprise assistance program, with and without involving male partners, found that it improved women’s economic outcomes, but that depended on the quality of women’s relationships with their intimate partners. While the program had no impact on IPV, involving male partners...
Cash purchases being used to purchase food from open market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Comparing Cash and Voucher Transfers in a Humanitarian Context: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Jenny Aker
Researchers tested the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an unconditional cash transfer and a voucher program on household consumption and well-being in a camp for internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both programs increased food security and asset...
Two police officers patrol transit building in Mexico City

Building Effective, Resilient, and Trusted Police Organizations in Mexico City

Rodrigo Canales
Mushfiq Mobarak
In this multi-part study, researchers, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Security of Mexico City and the National Security Commission, are evaluating how police organizations in Mexico City can be more effective, resilient, and trusted.