6.19
Michele W. Berger
Science News Officer
mwberger@upenn.edu
Criminology
Quattrone Center leads Philadelphia Event Review Team to analyze wrongful convictions
Quattrone Center leads Philadelphia Event Review Team to analyze wrongful convictions
The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice and city agencies have joined together in a partnership that seeks to improve the fairness and accuracy of the criminal justice system.
States with strict gun laws see increase in homicides when they border states with lax ones
States with strict gun laws see increase in homicides when they border states with lax ones
Over a five-year period, most guns found in states with strict gun laws were obtained from less restrictive states.
Law faculty perspectives on passage of the First Step Act
Law faculty perspectives on passage of the First Step Act
Penn Law faculty weigh in on the passage of the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that modifies sentencing laws, expands job training, and takes additional steps intended to reduce recidivism and create a fairer and less costly criminal justice system.
‘Second Looks, Second Chances’ examines parole reform for life sentences
‘Second Looks, Second Chances’ examines parole reform for life sentences
Regina Austin, Penn Law’s William A. Schnader Professor of Law, has authored a new paper offering a behind-the-scenes account of producing a documentary calling for commuting life sentences for prisoners in Pennsylvania.
VAWA renewal is overdue—but approval is contentious
VAWA renewal is overdue—but approval is contentious
The landmark 1994 legislation—the Violence Against Women Act—is up for reauthorization, and includes a firearm-related provision.
New study finds holistic defense effective in reducing mass incarceration
New study finds holistic defense effective in reducing mass incarceration
Researchers at RAND and Penn Law School find that by adopting an innovative holistic approach to defending poor clients in criminal cases, jurisdictions can significantly reduce incarceration and save taxpayer dollars without harming public safety.
Inventive legal approach decreases gang violence by 18 percent
Inventive legal approach decreases gang violence by 18 percent
The drop came after the City of Los Angeles filed nearly 50 civil injunctions against gangs, limiting the activity of their members, according to research from Penn criminologists.
Dorothy Roberts on how prison and foster care systems harm black mothers
Dorothy Roberts on how prison and foster care systems harm black mothers
The Law School professor contributed to a new book that argues the prison and foster care systems work in concert against black women.
Leading from within: Madison Dawkins brings health and mindfulness to prison
Leading from within: Madison Dawkins brings health and mindfulness to prison
Rising senior Madison Dawkins created an independent study focused on health and mindfulness with the women at the Riverside Correctional Facility.
Greening vacant lots reduces depression in city dwellers
Greening vacant lots reduces depression in city dwellers
People living within a quarter mile of greened lots had a 41.5 percent decrease in feelings of depression and a nearly 63 percent decrease in self-reported “poor mental health,” compared to those who lived near the lots that received no intervention.
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In the News
The Wall Street Journal
The FBI’s crime data: What happens when states don’t fully report
“That’s just noise,” said the School of Arts and Sciences’ Richard Berk, commenting on the insignificance of a less than 1 percent decrease in violent crime from 2016 to 2017, as reported by the FBI.
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Houston Chronicle
Houston police team up with Ring app to tackle crime
Maria Cuellar of the School of Arts and Sciences commented a partnership between the Houston Police Department and Ring, a home surveillance company that offers video doorbells, saying that there is not enough evidence to claim that the devices reduce crime.
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