Since 2020, much has been said about crime in cities—whether it's up, down, the cause. While we should discuss the impact of violent vs "quality of life" crimes, we can't ignore data. @fairrionam.bsky.social on what federal cuts do to places not under the political microscope.

Schools using restorative justice see fewer suspensions, stronger relationships & better outcomes. Done well, it centers both harmed & responsible students, helping build safer, more equitable schools. Hear a CA educator's perspective in Ed Source: buff.ly/o8Kur9R

Data is key to Tribal well-being, but gaps in how it’s collected leave communities, lands, and needs underrepresented. A new @brookings.edu + SCAG report shows how regional organizers can partner with Tribes to strengthen data, sovereignty, and equity: buff.ly/SLbggxh

Rural families will see the biggest jump in health care costs with recent federal policies, with marketplace premiums rising much more there than in cities. Older adults and people with chronic conditions will be hit hardest, per @tcfdotorg.bsky.social: buff.ly/iGWVdxS

New Yorkers on unemployment benefits are often left waiting during their most stressful times, with just 55% of payments on time in recent months, shares @nysfocus.bsky.social. While many states have faced delays, NY ranks among the most affected. Dive into the data on delays: buff.ly/zQE4MQF

The inaugural class of Civic Engagement Fellows have officially started their work in the South Bronx. For the next 2 years, these @cuny.edu students will embed in community organizations to design and implement strategies that educate and empower voters. buff.ly/i0lhGYL

Calling all Brooklynites: The 2025 Comprehensive Brooklyn Plan is out—using data to spotlight inequities in the borough and set policy priorities to "ensure every Brooklynite is healthy, housed & supported." Explore the blueprint from @bkbpreynoso.bsky.social: buff.ly/kkW0bWJ

“Accountability and effective policing are not mutually exclusive. They must go hand in hand." Our study was the first of its kind to examine police encounters through the lens of their body-worn cameras. See what we found out about constitutionality, race, and reform. buff.ly/LF78u8D

After the LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline shut down this summer, some states are stepping up to ensure youth still get support, including CA’s partnership with @trevorproject.bsky.social to train 988 crisis counselors on LGBTQ+ youth issues. @routefifty.bsky.social shares more: buff.ly/Hgn36Yz

Social services must be based on reality, not fear. An outcomes-based approach—collecting data, elevating participant voices in program design, and adapting programs based on data—has helped support those experiencing homelessness. Governing explains how: buff.ly/KbxK3P2

20 years after Hurricane Katrina, federal support for disaster relief remains vital, but state, local, and community-led solutions—and data—are especially critical amidst funding shifts. @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shares two decades of data on disasters in the Gulf: buff.ly/TY0d5yx

In prisons, “approximately 70% of the guards are men, and policies and the facilities themselves are generally designed to control male social structures and male violence.” With women in prison drastically rising, @thehill.com explains the implications: buff.ly/97316L7

ICYMI: Like us, Labor Day has roots in NYC, with a parade in 1882 from City Hall to Times Square. With gratitude for the workers who keep the country running, we’re thrilled to see our data on human services pay & employment trends cited in this @nyamnews.bsky.social op-ed.

With Pell Grants restored for incarcerated students and many new college-in-prison programs in development, it's critical to ensure these courses are leading students to real opportunities. @amandavhernan.bsky.social on why we must link learning to career pathways: buff.ly/3TnDAfj

A troubling trend is popping up in NYC: immigrants are skipping health care appointments out of fear over immigration enforcement, leaving many without essential care and putting communities at risk. @thecity.nyc explains the NYC Care data and the story: buff.ly/TJDJr1Z

In a newly launched @nycvotes.bsky.social & ISLG fellowship, @cuny.edu students team up with Bronx organizations to make their voices heard in local elections. “CUNY students have always been the beating heart of New York City and at the vanguard of community-led change." buff.ly/i0lhGYL

In Oklahoma, reclassifying some non-violent, low-level offenses led to a drop in sentencing—and savings from reduced incarceration were funneled into county-level mental health programs, improving outcomes for everyone. @publicradiotulsa.bsky.social has more: buff.ly/Z5sEvd3

Higher education can change lives, especially for incarcerated students. Since 2017, ISLG & @manhattanda.bsky.social have expanded college in prison across NY. A new analysis is out now, including new data on how college improved safety inside facilities. Dig into the findings here:

Criminal legal experts often cite communities bear the financial brunt of incarceration. @fwd.us gives another data point. Families face lost income, commissary costs & housing instability, with children hit hardest. Via @stateline.org: buff.ly/NubG0wL

The 🗞️ latest edition of Institute Intelligence is up! This month, we launched our new Strengthening Public and Human Services page, introduced the inaugural Civic Engagement Fellows, and released the latest research on the impact of college in prison in New York. Read all about it! buff.ly/TUx2IL1

In 2023, 1 in 5 people in state prison were there for a supervision violation—often for missing appointments, not breaking laws. Supervision was meant to support rehabilitation, but it’s fueling incarceration instead. @csgovts.bsky.social breaks down the data: buff.ly/4ZyKrY4

Meet the inaugural Civic Engagement Fellows! In this new Fellowship from ISLG & @nycvotes.bsky.social, @cuny.edu students embed in Bronx community orgs to support tailored voter engagement and education on critical local issues. More about the work is on our blog. buff.ly/i0lhGYL

A unique partnership of City agencies, nonprofits, developers & architects transformed an old Queens hotel into 318 affordable homes—60% for formerly homeless families. The project marks the first under NY’s HONDA law. Via @citylimitsnews.bsky.social: buff.ly/NVj9fOQ

In SF, @communityworksw.bsky.social’s hub models how cities can take a restorative approach to connecting adults with reentry assistance, teens with therapy, and children of incarcerated parents to valuable support. @axios.com has the details: buff.ly/pZC2vje

States are often called the laboratories of democracy. And the housing crisis is in desperate need of answers. @ncslorg.bsky.social on how state and local lawmakers are experimenting with ways to make housing more accessible: buff.ly/kdW8bVF

CUNY ISLG is a multidisciplinary team of almost 60 researchers, policy experts, designers, government leaders, editors, administrators, and social media nerds (👋). Explore our newly revamped Teams page to get to know us better and see what we bring to our partnerships. buff.ly/P9CBhaf

For many years, grantmaking focused on funding specific programs or services. While needed, these RFPs overlook infrastructure costs that many orgs - especially smaller ones - incur. In our work managing grants, we've learned a few things about supporting both programs and organizations as a whole.

Across the country, thousands of kids & teens are spending summer in city- or county-run programs. These programs have long been a way to enrich the next generation while school is out. The National League of Cities offers an evaluation framework to ensure it's working:

By requiring mental health professionals in family shelters, NYC’s newly implemented legislation aims to break the cycle of homelessness at its roots. @Gothamist.com reports on the early results:

Two Midwest city governments are using geodata to make sure sidewalks and curb ramps are in good condition and meet accessibility mandates. State Scoop explains how tools like Esri and AI help determine high-priority sidewalk repairs: buff.ly/4a13fsX

Looming changes to Medicaid work requirements mean a steep implementation curve ahead. With different states having different capacities to collect this data, @stateline.org lays out what new processes may look like, and what might happen if they don't: bsky.app/profile/alab...

Cuts to Medicaid won’t just affect who qualifies for care, but also who provides care. In rural NY where many patients typically qualify for Medicaid, hospitals may see cuts to funding that pay nurses & other staff. @cityandstateny.bsky.social explains:

Research from @Pewtrusts.org on state courts found that 1/3 households have civil, criminal, or traffic court experience. Regardless of case outcome, many reported mental health and financial impact—and less trust in the system. See the data and why this matters:

In the past 6 months, funding cuts have hit nonprofits hard. While financial support is still critical, now's the time for funders to invest in coalition-building and grassroots leaders who understand their communities best. @SSIReview shares more: bit.ly/3FZZ8cW

New Yorkers aren’t just voting for mayor come November—they'll also get to chime in on several ballot measures aiming to tackle the housing affordability crisis. @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social breaks it down:

Summer job reports show human services and state and local government are among the fastest-hiring sectors. But many of these jobs lag behind in wage growth. Our analysis of New York State shows how fixing this can create a pipeline of quality, sustainable public services.

For our fellow researchers out there: two new tools are making it easier to access granular, standardized data that shows the impact of federal- and state-level policy on their communities. Get the details in @nature.com.

Heat-related deaths are preventable, and Arizona is taking action. The state opened its first 24/7 heat respite center last year, serving 5,000+ people with medical care and city services. Governing explains how the state is keeping residents safe:

In the past 6 months, funding cuts have hit nonprofits hard. While financial support is still critical, now's the time for funders to invest in coalition-building and grassroots leaders who understand their communities best. More in @ssir.org.

Different states take different approaches to administering—and measuring—important public services. @wfae.bsky.social on how North Carolina is trying to bring a data-driven approach to assessing and tracking child welfare services, when the system is state-led but county operated. bit.ly/3I3ODpp

"It's our duty as chiefs of staff to make sure that we're fully prepared for things at a moment's notice." In city and state government, chiefs of staff are the behind-the-scenes glue that keeps policymakers on track. We spoke to @cmsandynurse.bsky.social's Chief Samori Touré about the job.

July is #MinorityMentalHealthMonth. It's a time to recognize the unique mental health challenges faced by communities of color. We explored a critical piece of the puzzle: underrepresentation of BIPOC staff in the mental health workforce. How does this impact opportunities & services? We find out.

States are spending more on Medicaid, a trend likely to continue as pandemic aid ends and federal priorities shift with the new administration. @pewtrusts.org trusts breaks it down by state with 15 years of data. bit.ly/44quLoa

2025 crime data so far points to a milestone: the US may hit record-low murder and property crime rates, and the lowest violent crime rate since 1968. Real-time data tools like the Real-Time Data Index are changing how we track safety. @jeffasher.bsky.social ‪explains. bit.ly/3TdXOWS

Meet the 2025 Public Policy Pathways Interns! 👋 Coming from across @cuny.edu campuses and disciplines, these undergraduate and graduate students are working alongside our team to get hands-on experience in the public sector. Read more about them on our blog. bit.ly/4ltWye6

Coordination between federal and local governments is key during disasters. Staffing cuts this year at FEMA and @noaa.gov are putting that at risk. As disasters grow more frequent and severe, response capacity is shrinking. @statescoop.bsky.social explains. bit.ly/4l0XM0H

Two lives were lost on Rikers in June, bringing the total to 7 in 2025. Despite plans to shrink the population in the jail, it increased 39% since Jan 2022. These deaths are an urgent reminder to move away from reliance on the jail complex and into community-based solutions. bit.ly/3NgNACd

A cool (or hot?) new data tool from fellow @cuny.edu researchers at @huntercollege.bsky.social "shows how rising temperatures affect different New York City neighborhoods," giving policymakers and planners a tool in protecting our communities against the heat. bit.ly/3TUIT3W

Meet our 2025 Public Policy Pathways interns, see pictures from our Community-Based Restorative Justice celebration, learn about service navigation, and much more in this month's Institute Intelligence 🗞️. bit.ly/4kl6Lsd

With voter turnout shaking out to be among the highest in recent years, dig into @thecity.nyc's detailed map on how districts across the city voted in last week's state and local primary elections.👇