Crime and Justice Policy Lab

Based in the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, we partner with governments and non-profits to find research-based solutions to preventing crime, advancing the justice system, and other complex social problems. Our focus is on the needs and priorities of the partners and communities we work with—we believe good policy has to be responsive to and supported from the neighborhood level. Why Research? Many communities suffer from problems that cause sharp inequalities of opportunity: we have strong evidence that where individuals grow up directly influences their income, education, and likelihood of being involved in the criminal justice system, regardless of factors such as family history. We believe that better policies can change the dynamics of communities and improve the prospects of vulnerable people in society. Unfortunately, many policymakers believe they have little choice but to stick with "tried and true" approaches that have failed to make significant progress, or have harsh negative consequences. Research is one way to convincingly demonstrate the potential of new ideas.