Machine Learning

Machine learning tools continually leverage data to “learn” and improve performance — whether that’s cleaning datasets or analyzing the data within them to make recommendations.

Good data is essential to developing successful interventions to reduce violence and reform our criminal justice system. But too often, public safety datasets are disjointed or otherwise incomplete, which makes it difficult to analyze the effects of an intervention. Machine learning tools can strengthen data analysis by gathering information across multiple datasets or by making predictions based on trends in the data — allowing researchers to analyze data more efficiently.  

The Crime Lab team is utilizing and developing machine learning tools to expand and improve our data analysis capacity within many of our projects. 

Latest Updates

Shaping the Future of Policing Through Commander Training
Podcast
Brooks Bawden Moore Blog
Sep 2025

Shaping the Future of Policing Through Commander Training

Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) Executive Director Meredith Stricker and Director of Outreach and Engagement Kenneth Corey join the Brooks Bawden Moore, LLC podcast to discuss the academy’s focus on commanders and helping departments across the country reduce violence and strengthen public safety.

The federal help Chicago really needs
Op-Ed
Crain's Chicago Business
Aug 2025

The federal help Chicago really needs

The Policing Leadership Academy’s Meredith Stricker and Kenneth Corey penned an op-ed discussing the recent spotlight on crime in the U.S. and the academy’s focus on building the capacity of police commanders managing jurisdictions with the highest rates of violence.

Trump says he’ll expand his focus on crimes to other Democratic-led cities
Media Mention
NPR
Aug 2025

Trump says he’ll expand his focus on crimes to other Democratic-led cities

Mariah Woelfel for NPR and WBEZ Chicago speaks to the Crime Lab’s Kim Smith about the notable drop in violent crime in Chicago so far in 2025 and the strategies in place to prevent violence in communities.