This study evaluates the Pre-Arraignment Representation and Review (PARR) program operated by the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, which provides early legal representation to indigent defendants immediately after booking. We investigate whether...

Despite the breadth of available programming and the theoretical foundation for the promise of vocational training, prior literature provides scant evidence about the effect of vocational training in prisons (Doleac 2023). One potential explanation is that the...

This pilot study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of applying Modularized Cognitive–Behavioral Resilience Training (MCBRT) to a population of recently released parolees. The treatment will target difficulties of post-prison adjustment, particularly...

We are collaborating with Allegheny County to develop and evaluate a series of social programs to assist individuals who were previously incarcerated. We request funding to support the randomized evaluation of the first social program developed through this...

The proposed research asks whether equipping police managers with evidence-based tools and training can make the officers they oversee more effective at reducing violent crime and minimizing the harms of policing, both of which disproportionately burden...

We designed a “blind charging” algorithm that automatically redacts race-related information from police incident reports to prevent racial bias from influencing prosecutorial charging decisions. After successful pilots with two district attorneys, new...

This proposal outlines a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of the “Step Up” program administered to high-security individuals at the Lubbock County Detention Center (LCDC) in Texas. Using a combination of several types of Cognitive Behavioral...

This project will examine the effect of receiving permanent supportive housing services on housing, health, labor market, and criminal justice outcomes for individuals who repeatedly interact with the criminal justice system. The FUSE (Frequent Users Systems...

Millions of people in the US are eligible to vote despite past felony convictions, but their voter participation rates are extraordinarily low. Efforts to register and mobilize this population have foundered due to data limitations. In this pilot project, we...

In this project, we provide new evidence on the reasons that firms are unwilling to hire workers with a past criminal conviction, as well as what types of policies might increase employment rates among these workers. The context for our study is a large online...

Reducing violent crime, recidivism, and incarceration are top policy priorities for jurisdictions across the country. In this pilot project, we will assign jail inmates to play a video game designed to teach and provide opportunities to practice cognitive...

In a jurisdiction where failure to appear (FTA) at an arraignment leads to a default judgment against the defendant, additional fines, suspension of drivers’ licenses, and a warrant, about one-third of defendants nevertheless FTA. In collaboration with a large...

In 2014, nearly 40% of individuals issued a ticket for a violation in New York City did not show up to court, and were issued an arrest warrant as a result. Given this stiff penalty, it might seem that people would only miss court if they deliberately chose to...

Interventions to reduce crime often focus on increasing the likelihood and severity of punishment. Deterrence works if offenders carefully deliberate their actions, and so are considering the potential costs of their actions. But, we suggest that many offenses...

As the U.S. moves away from mass incarceration, more inmates are being released from prison each year. Unfortunately, two-thirds of released inmates will be re-arrested within three years. This high recidivism rate signals our failure to help formerly...