Generating Evidence to Empower Crime and Justice Policy to Reduce Harm: ASC’s Panel from AAAS Meeting

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Our panel reprises the ASC-sponsored panel at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in February 2022. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of Science. ASC’s representation on the AAAS program is significant because this high-profile venue is the premier general science conference in the nation, and because panel selection is highly selective, there is a small number of panels generally, and there is a limited number of social science panels.

Crime is a tremendous burden on individuals, families, communities, society, and the public purse. Justice is at the heart of any democratic nation. Crime and justice policy, however, too often stem from politics instead of careful analysis. Our panel addresses how we can harness scientific evidence to empower policy to reduce crime and promote justice. Our first presenter addresses empirical justifications for and the effects of Extreme Risk Protection Orders, which temporarily restrict firearm access from individuals at risk of committing violence. Our second presenter reports results of an RCT testing the efficacy of police de-escalation training. Our third presenter describes NIJ’s critical role in supporting rigorous research and program evaluations, providing examples of how NIJ empowers its constituents with evidence.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 52. Challenging Criminal Justice Policies

Individual Presentations

• The Use of Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Response to Threats of Mass Shootings - April Zeoli, Michigan State University

• Building the Evidence Base for Police Reform: Does De-escalation Training Work? - Robin S. Engel, University of Cincinnati

• Evidence-Based Guidance for Justice: The Role of the National Institute of Justice - Kaitlyn Sill, National Institute of Justice

Chair

• William Alex Pridemore, University at Albany, SUNY