Criminology

Renovating abandoned houses reduces the rate of gun violence, Penn study finds

A study by Eugenia C. South of the Perelman School of Medicine, John MacDonald of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues found that rates of gun violence were reduced in neighborhood blocks surrounding renovated homes.

John MacDonald and Gina South in West Philly

Abandoned house repairs reduced nearby gun violence

Installing working windows and doors, cleaning trash, and weeding at abandoned houses led to safety improvements and should be considered in efforts to create healthy communities, according to researchers from University of Pennsylvania and Columbia.

A shadowy figure walking away on a brick street.

Despite lower crime rates in 2020, risk of victimization grew

Research out of Penn and the Naval Postgraduate School found that early in the pandemic the possibility of getting robbed or assaulted in a public place in the U.S. jumped by 15% to 30%, a rate that has stayed elevated since.

Hundreds of Philly police officers work administrative jobs that could be done by civilians, a study found

A study by the Fels Institute of Government in the School of Arts & Sciences contends that “civilianizing” nearly 900 positions on the Philadelphia Police force could result in a more diverse, efficient, and productive department.

workbench showcasing the forensic toolkit

Crime and the scientific method

The multidisciplinary faculty in the Department of Criminology harness diverse methodologies to improve public safety and inform policy and planning.

Laws restricting right to film police prove to be a waste of time

Seth Kreimer of Penn Carey Law is quoted on the accompaniment of cellphone camera technology by cases of police prosecuting critics who recorded them.

Philly DA Krasner not alone among progressive prosecutors fighting GOP attacks

John Holloway of Penn Carey Law’s Quattrone Center says that blaming prosecutor Larry Krasner for Philadelphia’s high trends in gun crime is too simplistic.

Livestreamed violence compounds America’s horror and inspires copycats, experts say. When will it stop?

PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton says that the digital trail of evidence left by violent criminals needs study, resources, and intervention to avoid exacerbating community trauma and damaging mental health, especially for people of color.

Harris County’s bail reform efforts aren’t making crime worse, study shows

In a Q&A, Paul Heaton of Penn Carey Law explains the findings of his study on 2017 misdemeanor bail reform, ranging from its current impact to its long-term potential as an example for further reform.

Report: Fewer misdemeanor defendants reoffended in Harris County after bail reform injunction

According to Paul Heaton of Penn Carey Law, Harris County’s reforms show that misdemeanor bail reform can lead to less costly punishment for defendants and taxpayers rather than increasing crime.

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