The Columbia Justice Lab is a university research center whose work focuses on crime and criminal justice policy. We conduct research on incarceration, community supervision, reentry, youth development, community safety, narrative change, and racial justice.
We take a community-centered vision of justice that promotes healing and resilience, rather than surveillance and punishment, to address social problems rooted in racial and economic inequality.
News
Bruce Western to Become Russell Sage Foundation President
Professor Western will continue in his role as Director of the Justice Lab into 2025, and will take up the role of President at the Russell Sage Foundation in July 2025.
Columbia Justice Lab Statement in Support of Students
The following is a statement by staff in the Columbia University Justice Lab. We do not speak for the entire Lab, in which there is a diversity of opinions. However, we feel that recent events require us to speak out against University actions.
EAJP Issues Press Release on Historic Life Without Parole Ruling in Massachusetts
The Columbia Justice Lab praises a historic Massachusetts court ruling that determines Life Without Parole sentences for people under age 21 are unconstitutional.
Our Research
What's Next: Community Perspectives on (Re)Investment After Less Is More New York
The Justice Lab Probation and Parole Project and Unchained partnered with the Less Is More advocacy coalition, led by Unchained and the Katal Center, on a report which details: How do community members across New York State want the cost savings from Less Is More to be invested in their communities?
Upcoming Report on Community Reinvestment
The passage and implementation of the Less Is More Act in 2021 has led to a smaller parole supervision system in New York State. Our preliminary analysis also shows that there has been a significant decrease in the number of people detained in jail for technical violations of parole.
New Article on Poverty and Community Violence
Multidimensional indicators of poverty closely related to neighborhood shootings