CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

Hey The City University of New York students! We're hiring CUNY undergrad- & grad-level students for our paid summer internship program. We have a number of spots available in our various focus areas, from policy to research to law. Interested in digging into what makes good governance work? Explore the positions here: bit.ly/3RlxJUx

The Prosecutorial Data Collaborative is a one-stop shop for creating data-driven prosecutors’ offices. Combining the data-driven performance monitoring of Prosecutorial Performance Indicators and ISLG's tailored, data capacity-building support, the Collaborative offers prosecutors the opportunity to rethink & revitalize the way they approach data. Learn more or reach out to Jennifer Ferone at [email protected]. https://bit.ly/3D9cvGk

The number of women in prisons and jails has drastically increased in the last few decades. This Women’s History Month, we want to understand why – and help fix it. The reasons contributing to the number of women in prisons and jails are not well understood, despite a 585% increase between 1980-2022. To change that, ISLG researchers are looking at data from over a dozen Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) jurisdictions—representing 14 percent of the US population—to dig into trends and get a better understanding of what’s really happening. We now know that jail populations for women have increased post-pandemic, both nationally and within SJC cities and counties, but there’s much more to the story. Read about it on our blog to learn some of the other trends identified so far, and where we might want to look next: https://bit.ly/41Adngd

“Public health data are vital to helping states and localities understand the burden and impact of emerging infections so we can make informed decisions about prevention strategies.” This sentiment has been top-of-mind for many health professionals amidst outbreaks for measles and avian flu, among others. Some states have committed to maintaining or expanding the public health data portals to get ahead of the trends, including New York. Access to timely data is the key to keeping people healthy and safe. Learn more about what NY and other states are doing from StateScoop: https://bit.ly/4iei5Xf

To prioritize safety, equity, and limited resources, our criminal legal systems must lead with data. But questions on where to start – and how to fund – often stand in the way. The Prosecutorial Data Collaborative offers a funded solution for state and local prosecutors’ offices. The Collaborative is a one-stop shop that builds the capacity needed to collect, monitor, and use data for office performance and key policy decisions. Learn more on our site or reach out to Jennifer Ferone at [email protected]. https://bit.ly/3D9cvGk

Hundreds of people with no criminal charges were held in Mississippi jails each year awaiting involuntary mental health evaluation and treatment. A new law was put in place to decrease the number of people being jailed solely because they need mental health treatment—with mandated data collection to track it. Data that captures how many people spent time in jail at some point during the civil commitment process is recorded at the county level in Mississippi—but reporting data isn’t something that the Department of Mental Health enforces. The result? Incomplete and missing data reports across many MS counties. Without consistent data reporting, it’s almost impossible to gauge the impacts of this mental health legislation. Mississippi Today breaks down the complexities of the issue of missing data and other challenges in implementing this kind of legislation: https://bit.ly/4jUHuGi

A Q&A with a NYC Council Deputy Chief of Staff. A new series distilling a decade’s worth of research on the impact of community investments. A new data-driven Collaborative for prosecutors. See what we've gotten up to this February in the latest edition of Institute Intelligence. https://lnkd.in/eaJvCwri

What does it take to build safer communities? Our new series goes in-depth on the approaches that community-based organizations took to better meet the needs of the people they serve. When the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative launched a decade ago in partnership with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, its goal to improve public safety, prevent crime, and promote a fair and efficient justice system was a tall order. Drawing from the successes and challenges of CJII funded programs, we broke down key lessons and takeaways across four areas: ?? Addressing Trauma to Promote Healing and Mental Well-Being ???? Understanding, Reaching & Engaging Excluded Populations ?? Meeting Needs and Creating Opportunities for Individuals Involved in the Criminal Legal System ???? Strengthening Cross-System Collaboration for Greater Impact Dive into the series here, with case studies from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, The Legal Aid Society, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Osborne Association, Urban Resource Institute, College & Community Fellowship, Graham Windham, The Door - A Center of Alternatives, Barrier Free Living, Sanctuary for Families, and more: https://bit.ly/3DahXIL

Long-term systemic disinvestment in education has created unequal educational opportunities, disproportionately impacting students in minority-majority neighborhoods. These students face less economic opportunity, higher rates of suspension, and increased likelihood of being incarcerated in the future. Data on education among incarcerated individuals reveals that about 1 in 3 have less than a high school diploma. Coupled with the reality that BIPOC are overrepresented in the jail system, educational programming, like college-in-prison programs, have transformational potential for students upon release. In partnership with the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison and John Jay’s Institute for Justice and Opportunity, our evaluation of Manhattan District Attorney's Office’s College-in-Prison Reentry Initiative showed that over half of Black students who enrolled were beginning a college education for the first time. The study also showed that students enrolled in the program had a 66 percent reduction in reconviction compared to their peers. #BHM2025 Read more: https://bit.ly/3Pob0ab

State and local governments are increasingly including data in their toolkit to create the policies and interventions that meet the needs of their communities. With that comes a responsibility to give community members agency and decision-making power on what data is being collected, how, and why. This community-driven approach is at the center of The Brookings Institution’s deep dive to articulate what it really means to achieve a 50-50 balance of power between researchers or funders and communities, including why that goal is still being shaped: https://bit.ly/42KRjAR Examples of researchers bringing community partners to the table for data governance serve as a great starting point. In East Harlem, the use of Community-Based Participatory Research gave community members a voice in research design and execution. Learn more about it here: https://bit.ly/3Xzixaw