Reducing Gun Violence, Advancing Justice
Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program (NADP)
The Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program (NADP), implemented by Thresholds, provides supportive interventions for individuals apprehended for drug possession and is the most extensive police-led drug diversion program in the United States.
Community Safety Leadership Academies
The Community Safety Leadership Academies, composed of the Policing Leadership Academy and Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, aim to rigorously train the next generation of policing and community violence intervention leaders.


The Crime Lab designs, tests, and scales data-driven innovations to improve the public sector’s response to the dual challenges of America’s gun violence crisis and a criminal justice system that is not truly just.
Given its scale, when it comes to gun violence and the criminal justice system, the government can cause the most harm from its failure–or have the greatest positive impact. That’s why working with public sector agencies to improve their response is central to the Crime Lab’s work: it’s the best way to make progress at scale.
Topics
Our goal is to have an outsized impact on our streets, in our courts, and across our justice system to support neighborhoods disproportionately suffering from these crises. That’s why the Crime Lab measures success in terms of real-world results.
Community Violence Intervention
Through a combination of street outreach by credible messengers and behavioral science-informed interventions, community violence intervention (CVI) programs help de-escalate stressful situations before they lead to violence.
Criminal Justice Reform
We're advancing long overdue reforms to reduce the harms of America's broken criminal justice system.
Gun Violence
In cities across America, communities face high rates of gun violence and significant harm caused by the criminal justice system – both of which disproportionately impact communities of color.
Policing
If we want to address America’s gun violence epidemic and save lives today, fair and effective policing is essential. But for too many communities, we are failing to deliver that kind of policing.
Youth Violence
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for young people in America. But youth violence interventions can help keep kids safe and reach those who are the hardest to reach.
Latest Updates
Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) Graduation of Inaugural Cohort
The Crime Lab hosted the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Policing Leadership Academy (PLA), the only police management and leadership training program in the country specifically designed to increase safety and fairness in America’s most violent neighborhoods.

Chicago Program That Encourages Drug Treatment Over Arrest Shows Signs of Success, Research Says
The Crime Lab’s evaluation of the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, which has demonstrated success in reducing drug-related arrests, is highlighted in this piece by WTTW’s Paris Schutz.
Economic Club of Chicago- Public Safety: A Call to Action for Business
This event featured a panel discussion on public safety in Chicago moderated by Roseanna Ander, Founding Executive Director of the Crime Lab.