Policy Insights in Crime, Violence, and Conflict
J-PAL’s Crime, Violence, and Conflict sector focuses on promoting safe communities and designing effective policies to manage and reduce violence and conflict. The policy insight below summarizes lessons from randomized evaluations on the impact of programs that draw on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce crime and violence.
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Chris Blattman (University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy) and Oeindrila Dube (University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy), Crime, Violence, and Conflict Co-Chairs

Photo: Glenna Gordon | J-PAL
Reducing criminal behavior through cognitive behavioral therapy
Last updated: April 2018
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce criminal behavior among both at-risk youth and criminally engaged men, likely by helping them focus more on the future, change their self-perceptions, and/or slow their decision-making.