In a larger feature on upcoming criminal justice reforms in New York City, DCJ Director Preeti Chauhan’s interview with CBSN New York from earlier this month is highlighted. Her interview cites findings from DCJ’s research brief, “Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City”, as well as an explanation of what cases […]
DCJ Featured Articles
New York City Plans Support Network for Defendants Freed Under New Bail Laws
With sweeping court reforms set to go into effect January 1, 2020 in New York State, New York City officials will spend millions to ensure that the thousands of defendants no longer eligible for money bail will successfully return for their hearings. In the Wall Street Journal’s coverage of these reforms, they reference DCJ’s finding […]
City Expands Award-Winning, Nationally Recognized Supervised Released Program in Response to State Bail Reform
In anticipation of new State bail reform measures, New York City will launch an expansion of its existing Supervised Release program to provide judges with an alternative to money bail in cases where additional support is required to ensure an individual returns to court. Several experts in the field were quoted in the city’s press […]
DCJ Director Preeti Chauhan Appears on CBS New York to Discuss Upcoming Bail Reforms
DCJ Director Preeti Chauhan appeared live on CBS New York on November 7th to discuss upcoming bail reforms and their potential impacts in New York City. To read DCJ’s research brief, “Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City”, click here.
Arrests for Low-Level Crimes Are Plummeting, and the Experts Are Flummoxed
Consistent findings of drops in misdemeanor arrests across our Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice sites are featured in this piece from the Wall Street Journal.
Prince George’s County, MD Releases Latest Report for Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice
The latest report from DCJ’s Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice, Tracking Enforcement Rates in Prince George’s County, MD 2006-2018, presents trends in enforcement actions in Prince George’s County, Maryland, from 2006 through 2018. Three specific categories of enforcement are examined here, including felony arrests, misdemeanor arrests, and criminal citations, but with an emphasis on misdemeanor […]
Inside City Hall Feature with DCJ Director Preeti Chauhan
Following the release of our latest brief, Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City, DCJ’s Director Preeti Chauhan sat down with Errol Louis on Inside City Hall to discuss our findings. Watch the full video here.
Study Finds Bail Reforms Would Have Released 20,000 People From Jail in 2018
New York Law Journal: Nearly 20,000 more people would have been released from jail without bail before trial in 2018 if New York’s statewide bail reforms had been in place then, according to a study published Monday by John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice.
Cash Bail Will Mostly End in NY in 2020. Here’s What That Could Look Like.
Our brief, Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City, was featured in a segment explaining the cash bail system and the 2020 Bail Reforms on NY1. Click here to read more and watch the segment in full.
DCJ Releases Latest Research Brief: Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City
In our latest brief, using data from the New York State Office of Court Administration, DCJ applies NY State bail reforms, which are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2020, to 2018 data to assess how pretrial release outcomes would have been different in New York City as a whole and by borough. […]
For non-white New Yorkers, marijuana arrests more often lead to conviction
Where New York Stands on Marijuana
10,872 New Yorkers to See Their Marijuana Convictions Disappear
Marijuana was Decriminalized. Here’s what that Means for Queens.
Senate Majority Decriminalizes Marijuana Use in New York State
Marijuana Decriminalization is Expanded in N.Y., but Full Legalization Fails
New numbers show misdemeanor arrests dropped by 50 percent in Durham in the last 10 years
New Study Examines Misdemeanor Arrest Trends in Durham
Study: Durham misdemeanors down but blacks arrested more than whites, Latinos combined
Data show how inequalities in marijuana enforcement disproportionately harm Black and Latino communities
Article includes Alphonso David’s speech regarding the release of our marijuana enforcement report, suggesting that New York will use insight from it to shape policy.
Marijuana Arrests Plummet in NY; Still High for Blacks, Hispanics: Study
As NY Eyes Legal Cannabis, Racial Disparities Linger in Arrest Rates
Radio Interview: Marijuana Arrest Report
The Data Collaborative for Justice’s Director, Preeti Chauhan, is interviewed on The Capitol Pressroom about findings from our report, Trends in Marijuana Enforcement in New York State, 1990-2017.
Report shows historical impact of misdemeanor marijuana arrests
The Albany Times Union uses data from our latest report on misdemeanor marijuana enforcement to discuss past trends and the potential for future legislation.
Report: Arrests for Low-Level Offenses Declining in NY, but Disparities Remain
New York Law Journal article highlighting findings from the release of MJP’s latest report, Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests in New York, 1980 to 2017. The article focuses on the decline in misdemeanor arrests in New York while the racial differences remain steady.
New York City Murders on Track to Fall for Third Year
Our recent report, Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests in New York, 1980-2017, is referenced in this article on falling crime rates in New York City.
Addressing the Harms of Prohibition: What NYC can do to Support an Equitable Cannabis Industry
Report from the NYC Comptroller’s Office on supporting an equitable cannabis industry. This report references our Trends in Arrests for Misdemeanor Charges, New York City, 1993-2016 report.
Louisville’s Jail Policy Committee supports bail reform
Louisville’s Jail Policy Committee met to review preliminary data collected by the Louisville Research Network site.
Misdemeanor arrests decline in Seattle as racial disparities remain
On October 25th, the Seattle site of the Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice released their report, Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests, Referrals and Charges in Seattle. This article points out some highlights and takeaways from the report.
Arrests on decline for lower-level crimes in St. Louis, with racial gap closing, researchers find
Article highlighting findings from the release of our St. Louis Research Network site’s first report, Tracking Enforcement in the City of St. Louis, 2002-2017. Findings suggest that police are making fewer arrests for lower-level crimes and the gap between arrest rates for Blacks and Whites is narrowing.
Big drop in African-American arrests in St. Louis over last 15 years, UMSL study shows
Article from NPR highlighting findings from the release of the St. Louis Research Network site’s new report, Tracking Enforcement in the City of St. Louis, 2002-2017. This article focuses on the major finding that while Black individuals are more likely to face enforcement actions than Whites, the gap is narrowing.
New study shows drop in police enforcement in St. Louis City
Coverage of findings from our St. Louis Research Network site’s report release, highlighting a drop in police enforcement, especially with regards to lower level offenses, in St. Louis.
Why getting tough on crime in hot spots may not be the answer
The London School of Economics wrote about Eric Piza’s article in our special issue of Criminal Justice Policy Review on their blog. This post, Why Getting Tough on Crime in Hot Spots may not be the Answer, highlights the findings from Piza’s article, mainly that police officer ‘guardian actions’ may have had a stronger effect […]
New York City’s New Criminal Justice Reform Act Has Immediately Impacted the Number of Summonses and Warrants Issued
John Jay News highlights the Misdemeanor Justice Project’s New Report, The Criminal Justice Reform Act Evaluation: Post Implementation Changes in Summons Issuance and Outcomes. This article highlights five important takeaways from the report and a link to the full report.
Criminal Justice Policy Review to release online special issue dedicated to the Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) of John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Policy Review will release an online special issue on May 11 dedicated to the Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. A printed version of the special issue will be released later this year. The Criminal Justice Policy Review journal is edited by Dr. Daniel Lee and published by […]
NYC Criminal Justice Reforms Effective in Diverting Offenders, Report Finds
This article from the New York Law Journal, “NYC Criminal Justice Reforms Effective in Diverting Offenders, Report Finds”, highlights the Misdemeanor Justice Project’s recent report on post-implementation outcomes of the Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJRA). Results from this report are cited throughout the article indicating that since the implementation of CJRA, there has been a […]
Report: City’s Criminal Justice Reform Act has been a success
Article highlights some of the important takeaways from the recent MJP report on post-implementation outcomes of the Criminal Justice Reform Act.
Disrupting Bail: An Innovative Criminal Justice Reform Idea Gains Momentum- And Funders
Misdemeanor Justice Project is mentioned in this article as one of the organizations tackling the lack of data in the Criminal Justice field.
Guaranteeing representation at first court appearance may be better for defendants, and cheaper for local governments
Great article on the impact of counsel at first appearance from the paper, “What Difference Does a Lawyer Make? Impacts of Early Counsel on Misdemeanor Bail Decisions and Outcomes in Rural and Small Town Courts” by Andrew Davies, Reveka Shteynberg, Kirstin Morgan and Alissa Pollitz Worden from our special issue of Criminal Justice Policy Review.
With the Backing of Top Funders, This Group is Taking the Criminal Justice System to Court
Inside Philanthropy article highlights the Misdemeanor Justice Project among the work of other Laura and John Arnold Foundation grantees.
Study: Police Are Less Active on Misdemeanors
Data from our recent report, Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests in New York City, 1993-2016, is highlighted in this article from The Chief about the significant shift in misdemeanor arrests between 1993 and 2016
UrbaNerd: Dramatic Shifts in NYPD Street Arrests in the De Blasio Era
Data from our newest report, Trends in Arrests for Misdemeanor Charges in New York City, 1993-2016, is included in this article from City Limits.
New York City to end cash bail for non-felony cases in win for reform advocates
Data from two of our reports are used in this piece from the Guardian to highlight trends in misdemeanor arrests and average lengths of stay for misdemeanors in New York City. Our data is used in reference to the Manhattan and Brooklyn DA’s recent announcement that they will no longer seek bail for most misdemeanors.
The Misdemeanor Justice Project: Using Data to Guide Criminal Justice Reform
The latest issue of Translational Criminology features the MJP article The Misdemeanor Justice Project: Using Data to Guide Criminal Justice Reform. Translational Criminology is published by the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy out of George Mason University. MJP Advisory Board member, Cynthia Lum, is the CEBCP Director and the magazine’s Editor.
Rikers closure plan relies on sustaining recent reductions
When Mayor Bill de Blasio recently pledged to close the troubled Rikers Island jail, it was premised on the condition that the city reduce the overall inmate population to an average of 5,000 people in custody citywide. De Blasio set a 10-year goal for that reduction, matching a call from City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and an independent commission chaired by former New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, which sketched a plan for the city to close the jail within a decade […]
Knowledge for Justice: The Rising Tide of Grants for Criminal Justice Research
Philanthropy largely ignored criminal justice for decades—even as harsh sentencing practices were enacted nation-wide and mass incarceration gained steam. Then, a few years ago, more funders started to pay attention—including some major philanthropists like Laura and John Arnold, Bill Ackman, and others. New faces keep showing up, including Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna who are pumping […]
Minor Crimes, Major Challenges
Responding to minor crimes is arguably one of the most critical activities of any police department. The resource demands are certainly substantial. These enforcement actions also provide opportunities to reduce crime and enhance public trust. In addition, they pose considerable safety risks to the responding officers […]
Criminal (In)Justice Podcast: Why Misdemeanors are a Major Problem
We hear a lot about crime trends, almost always involving homicides or felonies. But the vast majority of criminal offenses are misdemeanors. These convictions can have a major impact on employment, education, you name it – yet they are hardly studied at all. Our director, Preeti Chauhan, teams up with Advisory Board Member David Harris […]
A needed reprieve for young N.Y. men: Police enforcement actions are way, way down
As New Yorkers celebrate the city’s historic low crime rates, they should also take pride in two other trends in the criminal justice system. After years of steep increases, NYPD enforcement actions — arrests, summonses and stops — dropped again, to record lows in 2016 […]
New York City Policing, by the Numbers
The warnings began even before Bill de Blasio was sworn in as New York City’s mayor in January 2014. A safe New York depended on the aggressive policing tactics that began in the 1990s and flourished under Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his police commissioner, Ray Kelly. Without those tactics, the doomsayers said, the city would […]
Officials Debate Decriminalizing Minor Offenses
A New York City Council plan to decriminalize certain low-level violations—such as public urination or drinking alcohol in public from an open container—has sparked intense debate among state and city officials about how these so-called quality-of-life offenses should be treated by police and the courts […]
Crime Dips in New York as Misdemeanor Arrests Rise, Report Says
Two decades ago, New Yorkers were more likely to be arrested in the middle of Manhattan for a misdemeanor than in any other neighborhood. Then, as crime fell, minor arrests in the heart of the city went down too. But almost everywhere else, they skyrocketed. The brunt of those arrests fell on young black and […]
Misdemeanor Justice Project - Phase I & II
Since 2014, the Misdemeanor Justice Project – Phase I & II has attracted noteworthy media attention. This section compiles news coverage on our work (Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests in New York, the Summons Report: Trends in the Issuance and Disposition of Summonses in New York City, 2006-2013, Tracking Enforcement Rates in New York City, 2003-2014, and Mapping Mobility of Individuals Arrested for Misdemeanors in New York City, 2006-2014), as well as, the enforcement of low-level offenses.
Study Finds Bail Reforms Would Have Released 20,000 People From Jail in 2018
New York Law Journal: Nearly 20,000 more people would have been released from jail without bail before trial in 2018 if New York’s statewide bail reforms had been in place then, according to a study published Monday by John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice.
DCJ Releases Latest Research Brief: Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City
In our latest brief, using data from the New York State Office of Court Administration, DCJ applies NY State bail reforms, which are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2020, to 2018 data to assess how pretrial release outcomes would have been different in New York City as a whole and by borough. […]
For non-white New Yorkers, marijuana arrests more often lead to conviction
NYC Has Cut Pretrial Jail Admissions, While Increasing Length of Stay
Average Bail for Pretrial Detainees in NYC Doubled to $16,800, Report Finds
Report Examines Pretrial Detention in New York City
Misdemeanor Justice Project Report Examines Pretrial Detention in New York City
NYC Jail Admissions Drop 46.9% Over Two Decades
Younger Inmates Top Decline in Population At Rikers Since ’95
Broken-Windows Policing Is a High-Arrest Program
Far from Home
New Report Proves Broken Windows is a Failed Policy, NYPD Refuses to Accept the Truth Calling Study “Deeply Flawed”
New York City Is Set to Adopt New Approach on Policing Minor Offenses
After months of negotiations, Council to consider low-level offense reform
Ray Kelly says city “doesn’t feel safer” without stop-and-frisk
Crime Remains Steady as Arrests, Summonses and Stop-and-Frisks Drop in the City
Police “enforcement actions” drop during de Blasio’s first year
“Extreme” racial disparity in local N.J. arrests, ALCU report finds
The Chief: A John Jay Study: Decline in Stops Pays Dividend
Bratton “Shame On” Former Comm. Kelly for Accusations Of Fudging Crime Statistics
Who to call on the police instead of the police
Monday Morning Thoughts II: Data Keeps Pointing Away from Crime Wave
Anxiety Aside, New York Sees Drop in Crime
Ray Kelly accuses Bratton of fudging “record low” crime stats
The Case Against Stop-and-Frisk, Chapter DXXIII
Decline in Stop-and-Frisk Tactic Drives Drop in Police Actions in New York, Study Says
In New York City, Police Stops and Crime Are Both Down
Black Lives Matter: Eliminating Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System
Court Observers Learn Stories Behind New York’s Jaywalkers and Subway Scufflers
NYPD accused of destroying evidence showing cops issued bogus summonses to meet quotas
NYPD and NYC attorneys accused of destroying proof that cops are writing bogus tickets to hit quotas
NYPD, NYC attorneys accused of destroying evidence of policing quotas
Darker than Blue: Policing While Black in NYC
Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Jails: Recommendations for Local Practice
A Millennial’s Guide to “Broken Windows”
Bratton Explores Giving Warnings in Lieu of Arrests for Minor Offenses
Council seeks deal with NYPD by year’s end to expand use of summonses for minor offenses
Bratton Pushes Back Against Council Speaker’s Proposal to Decriminalize Some Minor Violations
Summonses for Minor Crimes Keep Falling, Report Says, but Many Still Lead to Arrest Warrants
State’s Top Judge Says Some Minor Offenses Should Be Decriminalized
New Study Indicates New York Might Be Better Off Cooling It With Petty Ticketing of Citizens
NYC Cops Issue 1,000+ “Quality of Life” Summonses Per Day
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton Defends “Broken Windows” Policing
NYC Police Commissioner defends “broken windows” policing but will compromise
Incarceration’s Front Door: The Misuse of Jails in America
The Real Scandal at 1 Police Plaza
City Council Power Over Broken Windows Policing
Reducing Jail: A New York Story
What Bratton Isn’t Telling You About Broken Windows
Stop-And-Frisk Is Declining, But Advocates Say The NYPD’s Real Problem Hasn’t Changed
A Surprising Portrait of the Misdemeanor Criminal
Will Pot Pack New York’s Courts?
Bratton Explains Rise in Misdemeanor Arrests
What Is Happening To De Blasio’s NYPD?
Top Officials at New York City’s Rikers Island prison resign amid brutality scandal
NYPD’s ‘Aggressive Policing’
More Proof NYPD’s beloved “Broken Windows” Policy is a racist mess
Misdemeanor Arrests for Young Black Men in NYC Soared Until 2010, Then Fell: Study
Minor crime arrests across city have shot up in last three decades: report
Misdemeanor arrests in NYC rise sharply in past 30 years
Capital Playbook: Cuomo rigs storm report
Study: In NYC, Police Disproportionately Focused on Arresting Blacks and Hispanics for Petty Offenses
NYPD’s “Broken Windows” Strategy Has Led To Nearly 200% Increase in Misdemeanor Arrests Since 1980
Report Shows Extent of Racialized Criminalization over last 30 years
Police Are the Problem
Resignation of Highest Ranked Black NYPD Officer Raises Diversity Concerns
Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice
In 2016, the Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice was launched at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. The network aims to conduct analyses determining local trends in the enforcement of lower-level offenses and understanding multi-site differences. These jurisdictions include Durham, NC, Los Angeles, CA , Louisville, KY, Meridian, MS, Prince George’s County, MD, Seattle, WA and St. Louis, MO. This section complies news coverage on the work of the Research Network.
Cash Bail Will Mostly End in NY in 2020. Here’s What That Could Look Like.
Our brief, Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City, was featured in a segment explaining the cash bail system and the 2020 Bail Reforms on NY1. Click here to read more and watch the segment in full.
Louisville’s Jail Policy Committee supports bail reform
Louisville’s Jail Policy Committee met to review preliminary data collected by the Louisville Research Network site.
Arrests on decline for lower-level crimes in St. Louis, with racial gap closing, researchers find
Article highlighting findings from the release of our St. Louis Research Network site’s first report, Tracking Enforcement in the City of St. Louis, 2002-2017. Findings suggest that police are making fewer arrests for lower-level crimes and the gap between arrest rates for Blacks and Whites is narrowing.
Misdemeanor arrests decline in Seattle as racial disparities remain
On October 25th, the Seattle site of the Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice released their report, Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests, Referrals and Charges in Seattle. This article points out some highlights and takeaways from the report.
Big drop in African-American arrests in St. Louis over last 15 years, UMSL study shows
Article from NPR highlighting findings from the release of the St. Louis Research Network site’s new report, Tracking Enforcement in the City of St. Louis, 2002-2017. This article focuses on the major finding that while Black individuals are more likely to face enforcement actions than Whites, the gap is narrowing.
New study shows drop in police enforcement in St. Louis City
Coverage of findings from our St. Louis Research Network site’s report release, highlighting a drop in police enforcement, especially with regards to lower level offenses, in St. Louis.
In Pursuit of Misdemeanor Justice: UCLA Luskin researchers selected for nationwide Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice will focus on Los Angeles
UMSL criminologists joining the Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice
NCCU to Examine Police Response to Low-Level Crimes
Seattle, one of six cities selected to join New York City as part of large research network to examine trends in enforcing lower-level offenses
NCCU to study impact of lower-level crime enforcement
HBCU Participating in Major Research Project on Police Response to Minor Criminal Offenses
Research Network Receives 39 Submissions!
The Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice has received 39 submissions from a wide range of jurisdictions to join this groundbreaking initiative. The Research Network is an expansion of the Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) in New York City. The Research Network will be an alliance of seven jurisdictions seeking to better understand trends in the enforcement of low-level offenses such as misdemeanors, summonses/citations, and stops […]
Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice Announces Six Core Cities
February 16, 2017, New York, NY – The Research Network on Misdemeanor Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice today announced the six sites– Los Angeles, CA , Toledo, OH, Durham, NC, Seattle, WA, Prince George’s County, MD and St. Louis, MO – selected to join New York City as part of the Network […]