Episode Four: Building the Data Foundation

At Arnold Ventures (AV), we are committed to developing and advancing evidence-based policy solutions. But evidence relies on data, and that’s why we support organizations that collect, harmonize, and publish detailed datasets on all aspects of the criminal justice system.  

We are especially interested in efforts that produce individual- or incident-level data—the kind that enables robust causal analysis and drives informed policy decisions. If you’re working on something like this or have a big idea, please reach out to us directly.  

As always, thanks so much for subscribing to this newsletter and please share it with your networks! 

Collecting Data to Understand and Reduce Prison Deaths 

Tragically, many people die in prison every year, but data on how often and why this happens can be difficult to find. The Incarceration Transparency project was among the first initiatives to systematically document deaths behind bars during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the project revealed a significant increase in mortality rates within Louisiana’s prisons and jails, with COVID-related deaths accounting for a substantial portion of this rise.  

Building upon this foundational work, AV continues to encourage and support efforts aimed at collecting data regarding deaths in custody. This includes backing projects that collect and analyze individual-level data on in-custody deaths at both the state level (e.g. South Carolina Death Behind Bars, Texas Justice Initiative) and the national level (e.g. UCLA Prison Data). We would love to see more researchers and journalists use these data sets in their work – please take a look! 

Shining a Light on the Prison Crisis  

Data and evidence must lead to action. We know that our nation’s prisons are in crisis, suffering from a dangerous mix of understaffing, over-incarceration, and crumbling infrastructure. This has an adverse effect on the well-being of people who live and work behind bars, as well as on public safety as a whole. Through the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign, AV is supporting groups and policymakers that are actively trying to address this escalating problem.     

This past month, campaign representatives testified at a joint House subcommittee hearing, urging Congress to address understaffing and overcrowding at both federal and state facilities. They also participated in a BRIDGE Day focused on the subject. This convening brought together researchers, correctional leaders, and advocacy organizations to examine and discuss the urgent challenges facing prisons today. 

Though the topic is somber and deeply serious, the room was energized by a shared passion for finding solutions. The day sparked bold ideas, new collaborations, and a collective commitment to address this challenge. We’re excited to see what emerges from these conversations and hope that policymakers at both the state and federal level take action to make prisons safer for both staff and incarcerated people.  
 

CAHOOTS: Evidence From a Successful Program Endures 

Data not only illuminates problems that need attention, it also helps provide insight into what is working and should be preserved or replicated. Recently, it was announced that Eugene, Oregon is phasing out CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets). After more than 30 years of operation, CAHOOTS was one of the nation’s longest-running alternative crisis response programs.  

However, new research evaluating CAHOOTS from 2014–2021 suggests that the program significantly reduces arrests, with no adverse effects on public safety. In fact, arrests dropped by 76% when CAHOOTS responded, and the time until the next call from that location increased, suggesting stabilization. The study also found that expanding CAHOOTS reduces public costs and allows police to focus on core law enforcement duties. 

While CAHOOTS may be winding down in Eugene, evidence on the positive impact of alternative crisis response programs is growing. We hope other jurisdictions interested in establishing or preserving such programs take note.  

In the News

• Without additional resources and staffing, state laws mandating set turnaround times for testing sexual assault kits can cause additional problems, AV’s Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice Jennifer Doleac says in a new story from KUNC about crime labs and DNA testing. 
   
• Juvenile curfews are a popular approach to addressing youth crime and disorder, but there is not great evidence they actually work, Jennifer Doleac explains in the Washington Post. “The best evidence tells us that cities should focus their limited resources on solving more crimes and increasing police presence (and/or the use of cameras) in likely crime hotspots,” she says. 

• A new domestic violence education initiative is spreading across the world. Shear Haven—a Nashville-born effort that trains beauty professionals to spot the signs of domestic violence and know how to respond safely—has now been endorsed by 147,000 beauty professionals across all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Read more about this initiative here.  

• In the Baltimore Sun, Maryland’s Public Defender, Natasha Dartigue, explains why recently passed parole reform is long overdue. She describes how her office regularly interacts with incarcerated people with severe medical conditions whose “continued incarceration serves no public safety benefit,” rather, “it prolongs unnecessary suffering and wastes taxpayer dollars.” 
   
• The UK is set to deploy electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration. The new “three-stage” plan aims to release more people early, reduce overcrowding in prisons, and provide an incentive for incarcerated people to invest in their own rehabilitation. As reported in The Times, this draws from evidence-based approaches used elsewhere, including in Texas. 

• Conversation with Jens Ludwig, author of Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence 
  • June 9 from 5 - 7:30pm ET. 
  • Co-hosted by Arnold Ventures, Niskanen Center, and the University of Chicago Crime Lab 
  • Washington, D.C.  
• Panel: Caring for Aging People in Prison and Upon Release: Perspectives from the Field
  • June 23 from 3:30 – 5pm CT 
  • 14th Annual Conference of the American Society of Health Economists 
  • Nashville, TN 
• Causal Inference Workshop (Practitioners stay tuned for registration details) 
  • October 17
  • 2025 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference  
  • Denver, CO
• Causal Inference Workshop (Researchers stay tuned for registration details) 
  • November 11
  • 2025 American Society of Criminology (ASC) Conference 
  • Washington, D.C.
• The Virtual Crime Economics (ViCE) seminar series happens most Thursdays. It is open to researchers, including PhD students. To receive emails about upcoming seminars (with registration links) please sign up here.