Jens Ludwig

University of Chicago Website

Jens Ludwig is the Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, and Director of the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Duke University.

Voting History

Reducing gun violence

Taking into account both potential implementation challenges and expected efficacy, investing in police-led targeted enforcement directed at places and persons at high risk for gun crime (e.g.,\"hot spot\" policing; gang enforcement) would reduce gun violence.

Vote Confidence
Agree 7
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 7
Comments

We have an accumulating body of evidence from randomized experiments and 'natural experiments' suggesting these types of focused strategies can reduce gun violence. What we know much less about is what the consequences are for enforcement harms and community well-being, as well as community attitudes towards police or government more generally.

Taking into account both potential implementation challenges and expected efficacy, investing in police-led focused deterrence programs (clearly communicating “carrots and sticks” to local residents identified as high risk, followed by targeted surveillance and enforcement with some community-based support for those who desist from crime) would reduce gun violence.

Vote Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 2
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 6
Comments

I can see the logic behind these sorts of strategies but they have been challenging to evaluate, and from what I understand can also be challenging to implement with fidelity in a sustained way. More and better evidence on these strategies would be very important for policy because if they worked, they create the potential to reduce gun violence without some of the collateral costs of more traditional policing strategies.

Taking into account both potential implementation challenges and expected efficacy, investing in purely community-led violence-interruption programs (community-based outreach workers try to mediate and prevent conflict, without police involvement) would reduce gun violence.

Vote Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 2
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 5
Comments

As with focused deterrence programs, it's not hard to see and appreciate the logic behind these strategies. But these community-led violence interruption strategies are difficult to evaluate, and we don't have much convincing evidence on them one way or the other yet in my opinion. I hope that the US Department of Justice uses the major new investments in these types of programs that is part of the Recovery Plan as an opportunity to generate much better , rigorous evidence on their impacts, by f