Policy Insights in Crime, Violence, and Conflict
J-PAL’s Crime, Violence, and Conflict sector focuses on promoting safe communities and designing effective policies to manage and reduce violence and conflict. The policy insights below summarize lessons from randomized evaluations on the impact of economic interventions to reduce intimate partner violence, simple messages to reduce failure to appear in court, and behavioral change interventions to reduce crime and violence.
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Chris Blattman (University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy) and Oeindrila Dube (University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy), Crime, Violence, and Conflict Co-Chairs
Photo: Glenna Gordon | J-PAL
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Preventing crime and violence with behavior change techniques
Last updated: April 2024
Crime and violence prevention programs that draw on behavior change techniques to address cognitive biases in decision-making have been effective in reducing criminal, violent, and antisocial behaviors. These generally low-cost interventions may help participants enhance their emotional regulation...
Using simple reminders to reduce failures to appear in court
Last updated: Juli 2023
Failing to appear—when people awaiting arraignment fail to appear in court—is criminalized in 46 US states and can result in jail time. Evidence from randomized evaluations suggests that simple reminders through text messages, mail, or phone calls can be effective in reducing the rate at which...
The impacts of economic interventions on intimate partner violence
Last updated: Juli 2022
An estimated one in every three women worldwide has suffered physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime. Achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women are major global development goals. One popular strategy to reduce IPV is to increase women’s access to...
