Justice Insights

In the latest episode from the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University, researchers from CJR, Stetson University, and Elon University examine the complex relationships between community factors, mental health, violent crime, and suicide across 100 large U.S. municipalities. Key findings reveal that communities with higher proportions of Black reside...

In the latest episode from the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University, researchers examine racial disparities in welfare fraud prosecution across Harris County, Texas, analyzing 7,757 cases spanning three decades (1990–2023). Key findings reveal that African Americans comprised 70% of defendants despite representing only 18% of families in poverty,...

In the latest Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University, researchers present the Houston Public Safety Needs Assessment, revealing how economic hardship drives crime and incarceration in specific neighborhoods. The episode examines stark racial disparities. Black residents are 19% of Harris County's population but 51% of the jail population, and e...

In this episode of Justice Insights from the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, scholars explore the overlooked role of Black Funeral Home Directors (BFHDs) in reducing gun violence and premature deaths. The conversation highlights staggering disparities—such as Black teen boys facing homicide rates more than 25 times higher than their white peers—and examines how BFHD...

In the latest episode of the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, researchers from CJR and Baylor College of Medicine examine how racialized economic segregation influences stillbirth disparities in Houston. Using census tract-level data and the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), the episode reveals that neighborhood privilege l...

In the latest episode from the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, researchers from CJR and Stetson University utilize zip code-level data to examine the relationship between economic factors and crime rates in Houston, Texas. The episode highlights a significant correlation between unemployment and violent crime and explores connections...

In this episode of Justice Insights, we examine Texas's ongoing voter suppression issues that heavily impact justice-involved and minority communities. Our researchers discuss historical and recent obstacles, including strict ID laws and limited polling sites, which disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic voters in Harris County. Tune in as we explore the critical need for policy reforms to e...

Dive into our latest podcast episode, which examines the vital research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) focused on combating the growing crisis of substance use and overdose among justice-involved individuals. Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from various institutions, this initiative strives to translate scientific insights into actionable strategies to enhance...

Listen to our latest podcast episode to explore a significant study led by Dr. Howard Henderson and Dr. Carrie Pettus. This research investigates the impact of pretrial release decisions on jail populations and crime rates in Texas, particularly during the unique conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing advanced causal inference methods, the study examines the relationship between pretrial p...

Explore our latest podcast episode, where we dive into a study that builds on prior research into the factors influencing gun possession among Black youth in urban, high-crime areas. This episode delves into how these factors might differ based on gender, involvement in the criminal justice system, and geographic location. Through qualitative interviews with Black youth, both within the community...

Explore our new podcast episode, where we delve into the collaborative effort between the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University and the Smart Suite Researcher-Practitioner Fellows Academy at Michigan State University. This episode highlights their work to boost diversity and inclusion within criminal justice research by developing a searchable database of researchers who employ...

Discover our new podcast episode that dives into an ambitious initiative funded by several organizations to reform the criminal justice system. This episode highlights the drive to empower prosecutors with data-driven strategies that advance public health and promote racial equity. The effort will focus on developing and evaluating diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration, particularly...

Explore our latest episode, where we delve into our efforts at the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University to promote diversity in criminal justice research and education. This episode focuses on our specialized training programs designed to empower Black graduate students and faculty, fostering greater inclusion and perspective in the field. The program will focus on equipping th...

Dive into our latest podcast episode as we explore a groundbreaking collaboration between the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University and Baylor College of Medicine. This episode focuses on their research into how structural racism affects maternal and infant health disparities, offering profound insights into these crucial health issues. Their research utilizes a comprehensive ap...

Tune into our podcast episode featuring the innovative Re-Entry Dashboard, a collaborative effort between the Texas Southern University Center for Justice Research and January Advisors. This episode explores how the dashboard is designed to enhance the reintegration process for individuals returning from incarceration in Texas, addressing key challenges and offering new solutions. This dashboard p...

Check out this podcast episode on the HBCU Criminal Justice Research Hub, a pivotal initiative tackling the root causes of crime and mass incarceration in Houston, Texas. Join us as we uncover the insights and strategies proposed by this impactful research. Recognizing the significant impact of socioeconomic factors on crime and health outcomes, particularly within communities of color, the projec...

Discover the latest research efforts from the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University in this podcast episode. We dive into their in-depth analysis of the criminal justice system in Houston and Harris County, highlighting the disparities and challenges that impact the community—utilizing a mix of quantitative and qualitative data to analyze police shootings, pretrial systems, pros...

Tune into our latest podcast episode, where we spotlight the collaborative project between the Center for Justice Research (CJR) and The Metropolitan Organization’s (TMO) Police Reform Action Team. Discover their efforts to create a system that evaluates the effectiveness of police reforms initiated after the tragic murder of George Floyd. This research aims to measure the success of these reforms...

The "Reimagining Public Safety" project is a two-year initiative that aims to redefine public safety from the perspective of Black communities in Chicago. The project, led by the Center for Justice Research in partnership with the Black Public Defender Association and various grassroots organizations, will utilize community-based participatory research methods to understand the needs and perceptio...

Join us as we delve into the newly launched 12-month Researcher Development Program by the Center for Justice Research Development and Training Institute (DTI) in collaboration with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. This episode explores how the program is equipping tenure-track faculty with culturally responsive research methods to address key social issues. This program emphasizes the importan...

Explore the efforts of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as they delve into the root causes of gun violence in urban Black communities. This investigative podcast focuses on their research conducted through interviews with young Black men, shedding light on critical societal issues. The project seeks to gather their perspectives on gun possession and violence, examine the i...