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Media Contact

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Kim Smith

Director of National Programs and External Engagement

773.834.4292

kimberleys@uchicago.edu

Book Review: What We Get Wrong About Violent Crime
Media Mention The New Yorker June 2, 2025

Book Review: What We Get Wrong About Violent Crime

Malcolm Gladwell pens a review of “Unforgiving Places,” a new book by Crime Lab Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig, that reflects on how the book “challenges our assumptions about why most shootings happen—and what really makes a city safe.”

In Chicago, cognitive behavioral therapy shows promise curbing youth violence
Media Mention NPR February 17, 2025

In Chicago, cognitive behavioral therapy shows promise curbing youth violence

NPR’s Meg Anderson reported on Chicago’s Choose to Change (C2C), a program that combines trauma-informed therapy with wraparound supports and aims to reduce youth violence. The Crime Lab found that the program can effectively and sustainably reduce violence involvement and the likelihood of being arrested.

Do the Police Have a Management Problem?
Podcast Freakonomics Radio December 6, 2023

Do the Police Have a Management Problem?

Crime Lab Pritzker Director Dr. Jens Ludwig was featured on the latest Freakonomics Radio episode with Policing Leadership Academy participants and leaders. In this episode, Jens and Freakonomics Radio host Stephen J. Dubner discussed our Policing Leadership Academy and the importance of professionalizing police leadership to effectively reduce gun violence.

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Opinion: The good news about murder
Op-Ed
The Washington Post
Jul 2025

Opinion: The good news about murder

In an op-ed for the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne Jr. highlights recent declines in homicides and shootings in the U.S. and discusses this return to pre-pandemic crime levels with Crime Lab leaders Roseanna Ander, Jens Ludwig, CVI Leadership Academy Executive Director Chico Tillmon, and former Los Angeles police chief and advisor to the Policing Leadership Academy Charlie Beck.

Violent crime is falling in Chicago. But will it last?
Op-Ed
Crain's Chicago Business
Jul 2025

Violent crime is falling in Chicago. But will it last?

Greg Hinz for Crain’s Chicago Business provides commentary on the city of Chicago’s declining violent crime rates and highlights Crime Lab analysis of homicide data for New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago from 1890-present. 

How Chicagoans are working to lower homicide, shooting numbers
Podcast
Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons
Jul 2025

How Chicagoans are working to lower homicide, shooting numbers

Crime Lab Executive Director Katie Hill joined WBEZ Chicago’s Reset podcast with Sasha-Ann Simons to discuss strategies for maintaining the recent downward trends in shootings and homicides as local violence prevention groups navigate federal funding cuts to research-backed CVI programs.

The best way to cut gun violence, and it’s almost free
Op-Ed
Crain's Chicago Business
Jul 2025

The best way to cut gun violence, and it’s almost free

In an op-ed for Crain’s Chicago Business, Crime Lab Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig highlights the importance of using data-informed practices to improve public safety and shares key insights from behavioral economics that provide a playbook for addressing gun violence that is both effective and low-cost.

Deaths of decision-making are killing American teens. Schools can fix it.
Op-Ed
Brookings
Jul 2025

Deaths of decision-making are killing American teens. Schools can fix it.

Crime Lab executive director Katie Hill pens an op-ed for Brookings about how cognitive behavioral programs can teach teens decision-making skills that can dramatically reduce violence and save lives – often at little or no additional cost.

Research on cognitive behavioral therapy for at-risk youth
Podcast
Probable Causation
Jul 2025

Research on cognitive behavioral therapy for at-risk youth

Dr. Nour Abdul-Razzak joins host Jennifer Doleac on the Probable Causation podcast to discuss the Choose to Change program—an intervention that integrates trauma-informed therapy with comprehensive support to reduce youth violence and improve educational outcomes.

John McWhorter & Jens Ludwig – The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence
Podcast
The Glenn Show
Jun 2025

John McWhorter & Jens Ludwig – The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence

Jens Ludwig and John McWhorter join The Glenn Show with Glenn Loury to discuss Ludwig’s latest book, “Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence.” Ludwig argues that much of the gun violence we observe in America arises from in-the-moment disputes rather than premeditated actions. He suggests that by applying principles from behavioral science, we can de-escalate altercations before things turn violent.

Comedy and crime fighting join forces for police learning leadership skills
Media Mention
Associated Press
Jun 2025

Comedy and crime fighting join forces for police learning leadership skills

Claudia Lauer for The Associated Press highlights the Policing Leadership Academy’s partnership with The Second City that uses improv exercises to help police leaders build deeper communication skills and meet their goals of increasing community engagement and creating safer cities.

How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago
Podcast
Tradeoffs
Jun 2025

How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago

The Tradeoffs Podcast highlights the Crime Lab’s study of Choose to Change, a program that pairs cognitive behavioral therapy with wraparound supports to engage young people who are increasingly disconnected from school and often exposed to high levels of trauma – with the goal of keeping them safe and helping them thrive.

Overview of the City of Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard
Event
UChicago Crime Lab
Jun 2025

Overview of the City of Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard

The Crime Lab hosted a webinar that explored the City of Chicago’s Violence Reduction Dashboard—a publicly available tool launched to support efforts to reduce gun violence through transparent, real-time data.