Social Inequality and Evidence-Based Policy: An Agenda for Change

• In Event: Future Directions for Evidence-Based Crime and Justice Policy

Abstract

Addressing the role of social inequality in society has been revealed and regarded as a national priority. Social inequality has a complex relationship with crime and the criminal justice system. Despite an overwhelming agreement on the important role that social inequality plays in crime and criminal justice outcomes, there are no evidence-based policies or practices designed to reduce social inequality among justice-involved individuals. Nonetheless, in the absence of massive social policy change, there are policies and practices that can reduce inequality and address the needs of marginalized groups in the justice systems. This paper highlights several of these criminal justice strategies, as well as a few outside of the justice system that could reduce social inequality. It also discusses the important role that data metrics on subgroups play in addressing social inequality and the nature of research collaborations and accessibility in producing and translating scientific work.

Author

• Nancy Rodriguez, University of California, Irvine