Jun 2023

Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program (NADP) Research Brief

Ashna Arora

This research brief highlights early findings from Chicago’s Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, which offers people arrested on non-violent, low-level drug offenses the opportunity to receive substance use treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, instead of a criminal record or jail time.

Related Resources
Transforming Criminal Justice Responses to Substance Use: Impacts on Crime, Housing, and Health Outcomes
Academic Paper

Transforming Criminal Justice Responses to Substance Use: Impacts on Crime, Housing, and Health Outcomes

Jan 2025

This paper evaluates the impact of diverting individuals who possess drugs away from arrest and into substance use treatment in Chicago between 2010-2022.

Agent-Based Model of Combined Community- and Jail-Based Take-Home Naloxone Distribution
Academic Paper

Agent-Based Model of Combined Community- and Jail-Based Take-Home Naloxone Distribution

Dec 2024

This paper outlines the impact and cost-effectiveness of naloxone distribution, particularly for people facing criminal justice involvement.

Empirical Analysis of Prediction Mistakes in New York City Pretrial Data
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Empirical Analysis of Prediction Mistakes in New York City Pretrial Data

Feb 2024
Brookings Institution Commentary: Making the invisible epidemic visible
Brief

Brookings Institution Commentary: Making the invisible epidemic visible

Aug 2023

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.

Latest Updates

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.

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.

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.