In this episode, Jeff Asher and Anna Harvey discuss the Jail Data Initiative, a groundbreaking project improving the way we collect and analyze data on jail populations. 

Anna explains the challenges of data collection, why understanding jail populations is essential for meaningful reform, and how accurate data can shape criminal justice policies. The discussion also explores the need for stronger data-sharing agreements and the exciting potential for future research to inform evidence-based change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How the Jail Data Initiative uses daily detainee-level data to deliver unprecedented insights into jail populations.
• How the project, launched in September 2019, evolved into a robust population dashboard used by researchers and policymakers.
• The population dashboard enables users to filter jail data by demographics, geography, and time frame to uncover trends, as well as request permission to access an additional database containing daily, individual-level data.
• How developing a common data-sharing framework could enhance collaboration among agencies and advance research on the criminal justice system. 
• Why accurate data is critical in evaluating policy reforms and driving improvements in public safety.

Guest Bio:

Anna Harvey is Professor of Politics, Affiliated Professor of Data Science, Affiliated Professor of Law, and the founder and Director of the Public Safety Lab at New York University. The Public Safety Lab’s projects include the Jail Data Initiative, a large-scale effort to collect daily individual-level jail records in over 1,000 local jails in the United States, and the Prosecutorial Reform Initiative, a collaborative effort with several district attorneys’ offices to develop more effective prosecutorial policies. Professor Harvey is the author of three books and numerous peer-reviewed articles, including work on misdemeanor prosecution, crime victimization, fiscal incentives in law enforcement, and voting from jail.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Anna Harvey at https://wp.nyu.edu/annaharvey/
• Learn more about the Jail Data Initiative at https://publicsafetylab.org
• Visit the Jail Data Initiative population dashboard at https://jaildatainitiative.org

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