3 Excellent Short Reads on Public Safety

The issues of crime and public safety have been top-of-mind since before COVID, and then the circumstances of the pandemic made everything worse. So, communities across the country have been struggling with crime statistics, identifying trends, and attempting to intervene effectively.

Chicago and the University of Chicago Crime Lab have been center stage. The Crime Lab is nationally recognized for its applied research and is often seen as the gold standard for evidence-based intervention toward public safety.

On September 23rd, 2023, three articles came out that highlight the work of Chicago’s Crime Lab and provide high quality food for thought:

1. An article about the difference between data and personal experience, and what the experience gap tells us about the reality behind the numbers. I know that I have heard friends and colleagues talk about the confusion of data trends that show reduced crime while at the same time feeling less safe downtown than we can remember. This article provides approachable insight. Highly recommend!

2. An article about an approach to gun violence prevention that has been successful in high risk neighborhoods in Chicago

3. Commentary directly from staff at UChicago Crime Lab and insight into some of the work that the Crime Lab has done that shows promise and innovation, including the establishment of Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSCs) for data-driven decision-making

Please consider reading all three articles, particularly as you engage in conversations about public safety in the city of Rochester. We need to learn from Chicago and see what we can customize for the Rochester context.

Brain food for evidence-based decision making around public safety!

Curated Article: Women and Labor Market Recovery

On July 26, Brookings published a research study on the role of “prime-age women” in labor market recovery. Prime-age is defined as women within the age of 25 and 54, and the idea is that women in this age range have increasingly participated in the labor force. Fair warning that the study is very data-heavy, with several charts and interactive graphics, but the overall point is that women are participating in the labor force at high rates.

The study also highlights that female participation in the labor force varies by racial/ethnic group, educational attainment, marital status, and disability status. The study also highlights variation in labor force participation for mothers of school-age children - there was an uptick immediately after the COVID lockdown, and that trend has leveled out. 

We know that COVID had a profound influence on labor force participation patterns, so it is important to pay attention to how patterns continue. Keep in mind that the article is about national trends, but still relevant to the conversations we are having in our community about the need for child care and potential impacts of employment policies on families. 

Consider these national trends when we think about employment opportunities in our region, target audiences for career pipelines, and our ongoing upward mobility efforts. 

Representative Data

On May 7, 2024, the Brookings Institution published commentary on the federal government’s updates to standards for defining race and ethnic categories across government agencies. The commentary is quick to note that standards are still not perfect: Identifying information falls far short of inclusivity. 

In addition to learning about policy updates, the Brookings commentary is an important reminder of the challenges, nuances, and technicalities of representative data. 

Our Community Indicators dashboard uses Census data and data from New York State agencies, all of which have wrestled with these issues. As we note in the Community Indicators section, we know that the racial/ethnic categories may not feel like a direct representation of your racial/ethnic identity and, for some, may not feel empowering. We hope to make bigger strides toward more expansive and inclusive terminology.

How to Swim in an Ocean of Data

This year, an estimated 147 zettabytes of data will be generated worldwide. To begin wrapping your mind around that, consider that a zettabyte is equal to a trillion gigabytes.

Having even a fraction of that information at our fingertips can either help or complicate decision-making, especially in public policy. 

Please consider these posts context and complimentary narrative to the zettabytes of data.