Doing what works to reduce crime and advance justice
As another year comes to a close in this era of hyper-polarization, people don’t agree on much – but they do agree that public safety is a top priority. What to do about it remains more elusive. It is easy to name the problems – gun violence, domestic violence, issues within the criminal justice system, and more. What is often missing is serious conversation about constructive solutions: what can actually be done to move the needle.
That’s the problem the University of Chicago Crime Lab is trying to solve: Use the power of data and scientific progress to help identify solutions that can make a difference and improve safety in neighborhoods across Chicago and across the country.
For example, Chicago and countless other cities around the country are staring down the barrel of punishing budget problems as federal pandemic relief ends and downtown commercial real estate markets struggle. It will be critical for cities to learn how to do more with less – a key challenge that our two national initiatives are trying to help solve, the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy and the Policing Leadership Academy.
In the coming year, we see opportunities to further expand our close collaboration on public safety initiatives with key city agencies like the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools and to partner with new leadership in the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney. As we have throughout our 15-year history, the Crime Lab is uniquely positioned to use data and performance evaluation to help ensure that scarce resources are brought to bear in ways that have maximum impact.
This is my first letter to you as the new Executive Director of the Crime Lab, and I cannot overstate how fortunate I feel to be here. It is an incredible privilege to work with this incredible team on the most pressing issues facing our society. I could not be more thrilled to work closely with my old friend and new colleague, Roseanna Ander, as she focuses on ensuring that our organization has the resources it needs to carry out this important work and achieve the aspiration of impact at scale.
As folks across the political spectrum debate (and point fingers), we remain relentlessly focused on using data, research, and evidence-based practices to solve real problems and create safer communities.
And we could not do that without you. The Crime Lab’s unique ability to provide real-time R+D support to cities around the country depends on our ability to operate quickly and nimbly without waiting for long government and philanthropy funding cycles. Now, more than ever, demand for Crime Lab assistance vastly exceeds supply. Your support, in ways large and small, is what has allowed us to do this critical public safety work. This season we humbly ask that you continue that support through a gift to the Crime Lab.
With gratitude,
Katie Hill
Executive Director
University of Chicago Crime Lab
Thank you to our funders and supporters!
The Crime Lab is generously funded by:
- Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Anonymous foundation
- Anonymous individual
- Arnold Ventures
- Bulls Community Assist Fund and White Sox Community Fund, which are both funds of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
- Bulqit
- Cari and Michael J. Sacks
- Craig Turk and the PD TRUE Team
- Dalio Education
- Everytown Community Safety Fund
- IMC
- Jeff and Maggie Shapack and Shapack Partners
- Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst
- Ken O’Keefe
- Matt Hinerfeld and Nora Jaskowiak
- Motorola Solutions Foundation
- Neubauer Family Foundation
- Options Clearing Corporation
- Perry Fisher
- Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation
- R.J. Melman and Lettuce Entertain You
- The Rosenblum Family
- Steans Family Foundation
- Sue Ling Gin Foundation
- Thomas and Susan Dunn
Media highlights
ABC News: Machine-gun conversion device dubbed ‘Glock switches’ taking violence to the ‘next level’
Chicago Sun-Times: University of Chicago Crime Lab gets new leader
USA TODAY: Biden White House readies week of events on combatting gun violence
WBEZ Chicago: University of Chicago says a CPS mentoring program drastically reduces arrests for violent crime
Chicago Tribune: ShotSpotter helps gunshot victims receive rapid first aid. Does that change the debate?