Court case delays aren’t just bureaucratic; they’re shaped by political decisions and limited oversight. Our latest blog explores case processing data from the Safety and Justice Challenge and highlights the importance of data transparency & shared accountability. Dig in: buff.ly/BlPrnTq

Jersey City is tackling a major budget crisis. CUNY ISLG is on the ground floor to help the new mayoral administration across the Hudson diagnose why it happened and chart a new path toward fiscal health.

Between 2016-2024, court filings and dispositions in many cities and counties went down, dropping quickly during the pandemic. But the time it takes to process these cases is rising. Learn why in our brief: buff.ly/n41KrsY

Last year, discovery reform & its effect on crime dominated the news. What resulted was a band aid, ISLG researchers wrote in a joint op-ed with Data Collaborative for Justice. Read more about what isn't working and how policymakers, court stakeholders, and researchers can fix it: buff.ly/HlHzquZ

Lengthy court case delays can upend lives, even for people held in jail pretrial briefly. Our new analysis of Safety and Justice Challenge data on case processing shows that even as case volumes fell, processing times rose nationwide. Explore the data: islg.cuny.edu/pace-case-pr...

Mayor Mamdani named @thefortunesociety.bsky.social's Stanley Richards as commissioner of NYC Dept of Corrections, as the city's jails face inflection points. 📺️ Our Michael Jacobson joined @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social to discuss Richard's commitment to a "dignified, human system".

Our first Institute Intelligence of the year is here. 📩 We're closing out the first month of 2026 with new research, collaborations, and insights shaping policy and practice in NYC and beyond. Read more: buff.ly/Vr1CYxC

In the Bronx, the Kingsbridge Armory is being redeveloped with local organizations set to own a major proportion and shape what gets built, setting a precedent for what equitable development can look like. @NextCityOrg dives into the progress so far: buff.ly/XuwjYWD

We hear “affordability” and “the middle class” all the time—but what does that actually mean? Who is considered middle class, and how are they being affected? New data from @Brookings.edu breaks down who the middle class is and what they're facing: buff.ly/QqqsMmG

Interactive data from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social tracks state-by-state homelessness and housing inventory, including showing where rates are rising, where progress is happening, and how federal funding shapes local responses. See how your state compares: buff.ly/lNIgELQ

The AI boom has started to make its way to public services, so it's important that local government recognizes AI's limitations. In Alaska, courts spent over a year developing an AI chatbot that instead wound up needing more oversight. @NBCNews.com explains: buff.ly/1nrOUsJ

New research from Buffalo dials in on a way we can make sure people are heard: analyzing 911 & 311 calls “not necessarily a signal of worsening conditions, but an indicator that residents were becoming more willing to engage with their community and with city government.”

The federal government has cut funds for NYC antiviolence efforts, supporting crime victims, housing domestic violence survivors, and counseling at-risk youth. This puts community safety progress at risk. @gothamist.com connected with the orgs affected: buff.ly/tGbcAQo

Government data is often incomplete & difficult to analyze. For a DOJ dataset of deaths in custody, clean data matters. That's why @themarshallproject.org is pairing AI with human review to fix inconsistencies and propose solutions for better data practices. Dig in:

Maine lawmakers are stepping up with a statewide pilot to collect detailed, local data on food insecurity. The goal? Target resources effectively, improve accountability, and ensure anti-hunger programs are actually working. More from @statesnewsroom.com: buff.ly/GCmPnDD

Strengthening the partnership between government and nonprofits benefits us all. In NY, state & local government relies on nonprofits to deliver essential services, but delayed payments are straining resources that communities depend on.✍🏽NY Daily News:

Good policy starts with good data. The new SJC Research, Policy, and Practice Hub synthesizes 10 years of findings from 50+ jurisdictions, giving policymakers clear, evidence-based insights on what works in making criminal legal systems smarter and safer. buff.ly/u6AOrbm

Affordability is top of mind across the U.S., and state minimum wages are one of the most direct ways policymakers can respond. While many states are raising wages in 2026, nearly all increases are under $1 an hour. Governing breaks down what’s changing:

Your dad's chest is hurting. You call 911. They send an ambulance. What happens in the next minutes can be a matter of life or death - and almost every locality measures it differently. Governing digs how and why this matters for the safety of everyone involved. buff.ly/qS940jR

Rural America is disappearing. Its residents are all farmers. They're all white. These are some of the myths the 1 in 5 Americans who live in rural areas contend with. New research in @us.theconversation.com challenges these myths, showing why getting it right matters for policy, funding & equity.

Communities need transparency and evidence to drive change. The Safety and Justice Challenge Research, Policy, and Practice Insight Hub synthesizes 100+ research products on jail use, racial equity & system performance to help turn data into informed local action. buff.ly/u6AOrbm

As measles cases surge, states are creating new data tools to improve access to clear, timely information. In Washington, the creation of new exposure maps from state public health agencies are helping communities stay informed. Learn more in @routefifty.bsky.social: buff.ly/4qM6bg4

Amidst record demand for public assistance, NYC’s Dept. of Social Services is relying on staff overtime to keep up, which not only raises concerns about burnout, but also about low wages growing at a rate slower than inflation. @TheCityNY breaks it down: buff.ly/AaD9De1

AI has yet to be federally regulated. In turn, state lawmakers across the aisle say they plan to continue passing their own AI laws in order to protect their constituents, despite federal government pushback. @statesnewsroom.com explains the latest: buff.ly/veo5uM3

A first for us in the new year: Introducing our inaugural annual Impact Review. The Review is a look at (some of) what we did in 2025 with our partners to design and implement public sector solutions grounded in data, community knowledge, and operational reality. Dig in: buff.ly/HBYhZzj

Happy birthday to the nation’s FIRST state constitution! Nathaniel Fouch tells the story of New Hampshire’s first effort at constitution-making 250 years ago. An important part of our national story and the spirit of ‘76. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Health care jobs may be “recession-proof,” but the workers and their wages aren’t. Despite continued hiring in the health care sector in an otherwise slow job market, wages in the health care sector are lagging. @npr.org breaks down the implications: buff.ly/QiXcKxW

From Minneapolis to Berlin, grassroots housing movements can help inform NYC's policies. These resident-inspired models show how state and local governments can learn from "bottom-up" housing solutions with communities at the center. More from @citylimitsnews.bsky.social: buff.ly/tqSNFn5

A new NYC City Council bill would create an agency deploying mental health teams to certain 911 calls. It advances a priority of now-Mayor Mamdani and, with 26 co-sponsors, has strong support. As the new administration begins, read about this campaign promise's journey to reality: buff.ly/qc57Er5

Something to look forward to in the New Year: The harrowing tale of a new train line in NYC could have a big payoff. A proposed Interborough Express would transform travel between Brooklyn & Queens, benefiting commuters, workforce & housing along the route. @bloomberg.com breaks it down.

Expanding the public safety workforce doesn't just mean hiring more police. It can mean adding professionals whose work complements police—like in community violence intervention and transit—to improve outcomes. @americanprogress.bsky.social highlights lessons from cities. buff.ly/ADCRjtl

New York City contributes 60% of the State's GDP—up from 54% in 2010. To better understand "who pays" and the fiscal flow between NYC and the rest of the state, we partnered with the Center for New York City Affairs. Read more about the revenues, taxes & more that fund services. buff.ly/mbRsT7q

A new NYC City Council bill would create an agency deploying mental health teams to respond to certain 911 calls, advancing a priority of Mayor-elect Mamdani. And it has strong early support. From @nytimes.com, one way the new admin is seeking to reshape local government:

"Setting a new wage floor for human service workers would pull 100,000 New Yorkers out of poverty and pump $23 billion into the state’s economy." In amNewYork, a new op-ed highlights our research to make the case for a stronger, more resilient human services sector. buff.ly/OlVye9i

Federally, New York State taxpayers contribute more to the gov't than they get back. A new analysis shows the same is true of New York State & New York City. We partnered with @thenewschool.bsky.social's Center for New York City Affairs to assess the fiscal flow between NYC & Albany.

Groups like MADVoters and the Policy Circle are creating accessible spaces—from Civics Literacy Labs to small-group policy discussions—to help community members learn, ask questions, and see that civic engagement is for everyone. Input Fort Wayne dives in: buff.ly/iP5bZBW

Staffing shortages and high turnover in NYS agencies that support vulnerable adults show why workforce development and living wages matter. Gaps in the system directly affect those who rely on these critical services. Via @gothamist.com: buff.ly/jX57QIA

In a novel survey, the National Council of Urban Indian Health is examining brain injuries among Native survivors of domestic violence. The results will help direct support to survivors. Read more from Stateline on how data and scientific research can inform public services: buff.ly/EdSpp2N

Strong movements need more than funding; they need shared stories and shared commitments. @npquarterly.bsky.social explores how the concept of “narrative infrastructure” strengthens the cultural power that helps communities align and advance justice together: buff.ly/i6GI92Z

“It's all about seeing how you harmed someone, and how to fix it. At its core, it’s accountability.” Across NYC, schools and youth centers are using a restorative justice approach to resolving conflicts, growing important communications skills along the way. Read how on our blog.

Millions of New Yorkers rely on human services workers from daycare staff to home health aides. Yet many earn ~$20k below a living wage. Raising pay benefits workers and the wider economy. Our ROI analysis shows how. Read more: buff.ly/koEWzHB

Iowa is reporting its lowest recidivism rate in a decade. The DOC credits new data and analytic tools that help improve release decisions as well as monitor safety and medical needs. @routefifty.bsky.social on how greater data capacity can help keep recidivism down: buff.ly/GEoOEpt

Building more affordable housing is a priority for state and local governments across the US. And they have a unique tool that can both support residents and spur development: vacant property taxes. Here's how cities and states have tapped into them.

With SNAP benefits reinstated, it’s clear how critical these benefits are to countless families. Queens- and Brooklyn- serving org Forestdale saw how quickly food insecurity deepened with SNAP benefits frozen. More from QNS: buff.ly/cwLrCkT

NYC voters approved four ballot measures last month, including big changes to how the city builds affordable housing through props 2–4. Prop 5 also passed, meaning the City will create a unified, digitized City map. See the voter breakdown: buff.ly/L6N4ZTS

Childcare, healthcare, social services—demand is rising, but wages for the human services workforce aren’t. To build truly sustainable services, workers need livable wages. CUNY ISLG analyzed the ROI of raising their pay. Here’s what we found:

Public health data illuminate emerging problems among different populations. When that data disappears, we lose sight of what communities need. @RWJF.org breaks down why preserving accurate, transparent data helps us advance equity and accountability: buff.ly/GZlkyMu

Growing racial and ethnic disparities in youth incarceration continue to “deepen cycles of trauma and inequality, harming families and communities alike.” Black youth are 15% of U.S. youth but 46% of those incarcerated. Data from @sentencingproject.bsky.social: buff.ly/FNpsz5x

This just in: the November 📰edition of Institute Intelligence. Dig into the work we've done the past month, including profiles of our Community-Based Restorative Justice partners and a ROI analysis on bringing NY's human services sector up to a living wage.

Restorative justice isn’t just for repairing harm—it also teaches us to listen, learn, and hold ourselves and others accountable. For #RestorativeJusticeMonth, read how Community-Based Restorative Justice Initiative orgs are supporting youth from elementary school to college prep.