Policy and Program Evaluation

We work with government agencies and community-based partners to rigorously evaluate gun violence intervention programs and criminal justice policy reforms.

 Across every project or partner, we work to generate high-quality research about the factors driving public safety trends and identify evidence-based interventions to save lives. Access to good and unbiased data is the common denominator for strong evaluation, which is why we pursue data-sharing agreements with public agencies and seek to make our own data publicly available whenever possible. We focus on policies and programs that are supporting the communities and individuals most impacted by gun violence and criminal justice system harms. 

From leading randomized controlled trials — the gold standard in research — to evaluating historical and real-time data, the Crime Lab uses a variety of methods to rigorously evaluate policies and interventions.  

Latest Updates

Former NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth E. Corey Named Executive Director of the Policing Leadership Academy
Press Release
UChicago Crime Lab
Jan 2026

Former NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth E. Corey Named Executive Director of the Policing Leadership Academy

CHICAGO, IL — The University of Chicago Crime Lab today announced that Kenneth E. Corey has been appointed Executive Director of its Policing Leadership Academy (PLA), a first-of-its-kind executive education program designed to help police leaders reduce gun violence and build trust in the communities they serve.

Homicide rate declines sharply in dozens of US cities, a new report shows
Media Mention
Jan 2026

Homicide rate declines sharply in dozens of US cities, a new report shows

The AP’s Claudia Lauer speaks with Crime Lab faculty director Jens Ludwig about the declining homicide rate in cities across the United States.

What it will take to fix American policing
Podcast
The Washington Post
Jan 2026

What it will take to fix American policing

Host Megan McArdle speaks with former New York City police commissioner William Bratton and former NYPD chief and new Policing Leadership Academy executive director Kenneth E. Corey about their work at the Academy and the program’s goals to reduce violence and improve fairness in policing.