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Crime and its impact on public safety, public health, and economics are universal concerns. RAND research has informed criminal justice policy development at local, state, and national levels in the United States and Europe, particularly in the areas of juvenile crime, violence, and substance abuse, and has explored a range of topics from the drug trade and "insider" crimes to sexual assault and the cost-effectiveness of crime prevention.

Report
Research Road Map to Reduce Police Killings
Preventing killings committed by police will require research funding, research-practitioner partnerships with police agencies and unions, and standardized data collection. Research should focus on training, policies, technology, consequences for officers, and foundational issues such as racial inequities.
May 18, 2022
News Release
Rise in U.S. Firearm Homicides Disproportionately Affecting South-Central and Midwest States
A rise in U.S. firearm homicides in recent years has primarily affected states in the South-Central and Midwest portion of the nation, as well as disproportionately affecting people who are American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Black.
Jul 14, 2022

Explore Crime

Blog
Online Shopping, Living in a Riskier World, Stress in Communities: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Americans' online shopping habits during the pandemic, living in a riskier world, how stress builds in communities, and more.
Jul 10, 2020
Commentary
Preventing Homelessness Among Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Without assistance, domestic violence survivors are more likely to be forced into homelessness. Now could be the time to invest in programs that help victims—before a second wave of COVID-19 cases pushes more families into unsafe environments.
Jul 2, 2020
Tool
Costs of Responding to Crime: Police, Court, and Legal Services
How much taxpayer money is spent on police, courts, and legal services to respond to crime? RAND researchers provide estimated costs by crime type and by state in a new tool that makes it easy to visualize and download the data.
Jul 1, 2020
Blog
The Postal Service, Election Security, Reducing Child Deaths: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the role of the U.S. Postal Service, preparing for the presidential election, reducing child deaths in Nigeria, and more.
Jun 26, 2020
Commentary
COVID-19 Reveals Need for More Research About Guns
Recent reports suggest that Americans reacted to the pandemic by purchasing guns and ammunition in massive numbers. What does this mean for public safety? And how can policymakers ensure that this doesn't result in more injuries or deaths?
Jun 18, 2020
Report
Strategies for Countering Online Abuse
Digital platforms that let users interact virtually and often anonymously have given rise to harassment and other criminal behaviors. Tech-facilitated abuse—such as nonconsensual pornography, doxing, and swatting—compromises privacy and safety. How can law enforcement respond?
Jun 18, 2020
Dissertation
Fulfilling Clandestiny: Reframing the "Crime-Terror Nexus" by Exploring Conditions of Insurgent and Criminal Organizations' Origins, Incentives, and Strategic Pivots
Explores the fundamental relationship and underlying incentives that drive criminal and ideological strategies and operations.
Jun 15, 2020
Multimedia
Crime and the Coronavirus
Meagan Cahill, senior policy researcher with the RAND Corporation, describes how crime rates have changed since the outbreak of COVID-19.
May 29, 2020
Commentary
Public Health Lessons on Intimate Partner Violence Tucked into Tiger King
Substantial work has been done to figure out how best to address intimate partner violence, but with limited attention regarding how best to meet the unique needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual victims. The popularity of Netflix's Tiger King, and its depiction of intimate partner violence between Joe Exotic and his two husbands, could help to focus attention on a very real, and often hidden, problem.
May 15, 2020
Blog
Preparing for a Post-Vaccine World, Domestic Abuse, the Future of War: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why we need a blueprint for a post-vaccine world, helping domestic abuse victims during COVID-19, the pandemic's historic economic effects, and more.
May 15, 2020
Commentary
Measures to Help Domestic Abuse Victims During COVID-19 Are Welcome but Not Enough
One of the most worrying and consistent trends during the COVID-19 lockdown is an increase in domestic violence. Governments are taking different approaches in how they act to stop the violence and help victims to be heard during the lockdown. Securing adequate resources for support services is vital.
May 12, 2020
Report
Exploring the use of Zcash cryptocurrency for illicit or criminal purposes
To help inform public debate and decision making, RAND Europe explored the uses of cryptocurrencies for illicit or criminal purposes, focusing on the Zcash cryptocurrency, in a research project commissioned by the Electric Coin Company.
May 6, 2020
Journal Article
The Mediating Role of Perceived Crime in Gender and Built Environment Associations with Park Use and Park-Based Physical Activity Among Park Users in High Poverty Neighborhoods
This study conducted mediation analyses to examine the effects of gender and presence of park walking path on park use, participation in park programs, and park-based physical activity through the hypothesized mediator (perception of crime).
Apr 30, 2020
Blog
New Insights on Gun Policy in America
RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative aims to establish a shared set of facts about gun policies. Recently, researchers completed an update and expansion of their synthesis of all available scientific evidence on the effects of 18 classes of gun laws.
Apr 22, 2020
Report
The Science of Gun Policy: Second Edition
Unbiased evidence about the likely effects of gun laws is critical to developing fair and effective gun policies. This report, part of the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative, updates the available evidence about the potential effects of 13 laws and adds analyses of five new classes of law.
Apr 22, 2020
News Release
Growing Evidence About the Effects of Gun Policies Provides Needed Information for Policy Decisions
Research evaluating the effectiveness of gun policies has surged over the past two years, providing information policymakers and the public need to make sound decisions on policies designed to reduce homicides and injuries while protecting individuals' rights.
Apr 21, 2020
Commentary
The Justice System and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources for Policymakers
From closed courts to increased risk for first responders, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges for the justice system. RAND research provides insights that may be helpful as decisionmakers try and address some of these issues.
Apr 20, 2020
News Release
RAND Report Examines Ways to Compare the U.S. Army's Suicide Rate with the General U.S. Population
The U.S. Army should use an expanded set of demographic factors when comparing suicide rates to those in the general population to get a more accurate comparison.
Mar 13, 2020
Blog
COVID-19, Out-of-Network Hospital Payments, Russia's Economy: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on COVID-19, limiting out-of-network hospital payments, Russia's sluggish economy, RAND's largest-ever fundraising campaign, and more.
Mar 13, 2020
Report
Comparing the Army's Suicide Rate to the General Population's
The U.S. Army has typically compared its suicide rate with that of the general population while adjusting for age, gender, and yearly differences. But there are additional factors related to suicide that should be considered: race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and marital status.
Mar 10, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Crime

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Lynsay Ayer

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Lynsay Ayer (she/her) is a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation. The overarching goals of her research are (a) to prevent violence and trauma (e.g., child maltreatment, suicide, disasters) and (b) prevent and treat behavioral health problems caused by…
Lisa H. Jaycox

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Lisa Jaycox is a senior behavioral scientist, clinical psychologist, and director of RAND-Initiated Research at the RAND Corporation. She has combined clinical and research expertise in the areas of child and adolescent mental health problems, including depression and reactions to violence…

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