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Institute Intelligence
Insights, case studies, news, and updates from ISLG’s good governance research and action.
Tracking Real-Life Cases, Data Shows Reforms Reduced Jail Populations without Spiking Crime
Studying real, case-level data from cities and counties reducing their jail populations has led researchers to a conclusion: pretrial reforms made through the Safety and Justice Challenge did not lead to rising rates of crime, violent of otherwise. Two new analyses show this trend on both a initiative-wide and county-specific level.
Institute Intelligence, February 2026: The Pace of Justice, Q&A with a Syracuse Chief of Staff
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month.
The Waiting Game: How Lengthy Court Case Processing Times Keep Jail Populations High
The timely resolution of court cases is a responsibility of the court system. But many criminal courts struggle to resolve cases in reasonable timeframes, with case processing times increasing even when court filings decrease.
Institute Intelligence, January 2026: Revisiting Discovery Reform, Local Data Answers Crime Questions
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month.
While Gone from the Headlines, New York Still Needs to Address Discovery Reform
Amid mixed results to date, policymakers can insist on better implementation of New York’s discovery reform, provide prosecutors with whatever tools they need, and steadfastly avoid sacrificing the due process rights of people facing charges. This joint piece is a collaboration between two of CUNY’s preeminent research organizations to get us there.
Institute Intelligence, November 2025: Restorative Justice for NYC’s Youth, The Impact of Paying the Human Service Sector a Living Wage
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month.
Listening, Learning, and Accountability: How NYC Schools and Youth Centers are Using Restorative Justice to Help the Next Generation Succeed
Across New York City, Community-Based Restorative Justice Initiative organizations are using RJ as a framework for youth services, from elementary to high school and afterschool programming. “Instead of it being something that we use for conflict and peer-to-peer mediation, it's more an overall form of communication, a way to bring the community together.”
A Case Study on Pivoting toward Impact in Fulton County, Georgia
When work is grounded in data, community context, and collaboration, projects can pivot and address solutions to all the problems that arise along the way. This is what happened when CUNY ISLG researchers worked with Fulton County partners to launch a Center for Diversion and Services.
Institute Intelligence, October 2025: Why Civic Engagement Matters, Tracking the Changing Use of Jail After Reform
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including why civic engagement matters and the changing use of jail after reform
Institute Intelligence, September 2025: Prosecutorial Data in the Great Lakes, Grassroots Investments Pay Off
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including prosecutorial data in the Great Lakes and grassroots investments that have paid off.
Institute Intelligence, August 2025: Strengthening Public and Human Services, Introducing the Civic Engagement Fellows
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including the launch of our new Strengthening Public and Human Services landing page, announcing the Civic Engagement Fellows, and the latest research into college in prison across New York.
Institute Intelligence, July 2025: Human Services’ Role in Summer Job Growth, Welcoming a New Senior Fellow to ISLG
A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including welcoming ISLG's newest Senior Fellow and a deep-dive into human services job growth and wages, and more.