Texas Southern University’s Center for Justice Research awarded nearly $600,000 grant by Arnold Ventures
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Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on November 03, 2022 Texas Southern University’s Center for Justice Research (CJR) has been awarded a nearly $600,000 grant to rigorously study prosecutor diversions and provide greater awareness and insights into the decisions made every day by prosecutors across the United States. This is part of a $7.4 million pledge by Houston-based Arnold Ventures. CJR’s project is one of 14 projects that will research 40 prosecutor offices across 19 states, and across the ideological spectrum, to build evidence on the impact of prosecutorial decision-making. The project includes a cost-benefit analysis of pretrial diversion programs, measuring outcomes from prosecutorial recommendations on bail and detention, and research into prosecutors’ efforts to reduce racial disparities in the criminal legal system. “This project centers an interdisciplinary research team dedicated to rigorously studying prosecutor decision-making,” said Dr. Howard Henderson, TSU Professor and founding director of CJR. “Through this work, we have the opportunity to provide evidence that will help prosecution better understand community-based alternatives to incarceration.” Researchers with Texas Southern University, along with Claremont Graduate University and Justice System Partners, will analyze the cost and benefits of prosecutor diversion programs compared to traditional case processing, looking at five programs in rural and urban prosecutors’ offices in Colorado, California, and Texas. “Until now, prosecutorial discretion has been opaque and misunderstood,” said Kristin Bechtel, director of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures. “Research and transparency can help us understand the effects of prosecutors’ decision-making.” Arnold Ventures is specifically focused on how prosecutors can use their discretion to promote racial equity, transparency, and data-driven decision-making, use punitive measures sparingly, and prioritize a holistic approach to community safety. “This support will help inform policy and practices and expand our understanding of how to build safe and racially just outcomes,” said Rebecca Silber, director of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures. “It will also lift up the research-prosecutor-community partnerships that sit at the core of these projects and are critical to building safety and justice.” Other universities that received grants for this research include Harvard University and Indiana University. ### ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Texas Southern University is a comprehensive premiere institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. The university’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become change agents in a global society. TSU offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 11 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. TSU’s enrollment has a population of approximately 8,000 undergraduate and graduate school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students, many who are the first in their family to attend college. Texas Southern University is committed to transforming lives and achieving unprecedented success at an accelerated pace. ABOUT ARNOLD VENTURES Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. Driven by a mission to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice, it invests in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. Arnold Ventures is headquartered in Houston, with offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City. For media inquiries, contact David Hebert at dhebert@arnoldventures.org. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
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