2018

The First Ten: A Decade of Impact at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab

We are pleased to share our report, The First Ten: A Decade of Impact at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab. While there is no way to adequately express our gratitude to the extraordinary people and organizations with whom we have worked over the last decade, we offer this report as a tribute to you all.

We started the University of Chicago Crime Lab in 2008 and the Education Lab in 2011 because of the unconscionable levels of gun violence and social inequity in Chicago and across the nation. We firmly believed that the University of Chicago was in a position to do more to be a part of the solution.

Over the last decade, we have sought to use rigorous research and data to pursue answers, insights, and scalable solutions, working closely with those most deeply affected by gun violence and educational inequity. To do this work, we joined forces with those already developing and implementing promising ideas across the public, non-profit, and private sectors. We’ve tried our best to approach this work with humility, honesty, vigor, and a seriousness of purpose.

Related Resources
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
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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.

Video about the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program
Video

Video about the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program

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This video provides an overview of the Crime Lab’s evaluation of the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, a program implemented by the community behavioral health provider Thresholds.

NADP Research Brief
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NADP Research Brief

Jun 2023

Research Brief for the Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program.

Latest Updates

Addressing Data Challenges to Prevent Domestic Homicide
UChicago Crime Lab
Jul 2024

Addressing Data Challenges to Prevent Domestic Homicide

Stephanie Drescher is the Operations Captain, Executive Section at the Madison (WI) Police Department and a graduate of the 2023 inaugural cohort of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). Our Crime Lab team spoke with Captain Drescher to learn how her experience in the PLA has shaped her work at her home department.

Improving the quality of life in downtown Knoxville
UChicago Crime Lab
Jul 2024

Improving the quality of life in downtown Knoxville

Captain Sammy Shaffer is the Commanding Officer of the recently created Central District in the Knoxville Police Department and a graduate of the 2023 inaugural cohort of The University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). Our Crime Lab team chatted with Captain Shaffer earlier this year to hear more about how his experience with the PLA has shaped his work at his home department.

Chicago CEOs Raise $100 Million to Fight Crime After Bloody Days
Media Mention
Bloomberg
Jul 2024

Chicago CEOs Raise $100 Million to Fight Crime After Bloody Days

Bloomberg’s Isis Almeida and Miranda Davis cite Crime Lab analysis of data on shootings in Chicago during the summer months, which account for more than one-third of the city’s shootings every year.