Aug 2023

Brookings Institution Commentary: Making the invisible epidemic visible

Jens Ludwig

New approaches can help connect domestic violence survivors to services.

Using new data from a large urban trauma center in Chicago, we document substantial under-reporting of domestic violence at the time of receiving medical care. Our analysis suggests that many women who receive treatment for their injuries in the emergency room (ER) do not disclose domestic violence victimization to medical personnel but do report to law enforcement within several days. This points to a missed opportunity to offer services and protection to domestic violence survivors earlier and in a more appropriate setting.

Latest Updates

Curbing gun violence in Chicago doesn’t require that we first end poverty
Op-Ed
Chicago Tribune
Oct 2025

Curbing gun violence in Chicago doesn’t require that we first end poverty

Crime Lab leaders Katie Hill and Jens Ludwig penned an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune highlighting the root causes of gun violence and the growing body of research showing that increased neighborhood vibrancy generates surprisingly large changes in the prevalence of gun violence, by as much as 30%.

A fighting chance
Media Mention
The University of Chicago Magazine
Oct 2025

A fighting chance

In The University of Chicago Magazine’s Fall ’25 issue, Susie Allen profiles Crime Lab Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig to discuss his book, “Unforgiving Places,” which challenges conventional wisdom on gun violence and suggests new approaches to solving the problem.

Researchers: Violence intervention and policing should complement, not compete against, each other
Op-Ed
Chicago Tribune
Oct 2025

Researchers: Violence intervention and policing should complement, not compete against, each other

The Crime Lab’s Executive Director Katie Hill and Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig discuss evidence-based solutions to crime, including violence intervention and data-driven policing, in an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune.