Working Papers / Projects in Progress 

 

"Longer-Term Impacts of a Youth Behavioral Science Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Chicago " (older version of paper can be found here) with Brandon Domash, Kelly Hallberg, and Cristobal Pinto Poehls (Submitted

Abstract:  We conduct a large-scale, randomized controlled trial of a six-month intervention combining intensive mentoring and group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth in Chicago, following study participants for up to five years. The program was designed to engage young people at higher risk of engagement with the criminal justice system, and successfully did so with a take-up rate of 62%. Over 24 months, youth offered the program experienced an 18% reduction in the probability of being arrested, with no impact on number of arrests. We find a significant impact on violence engagement, with a 23% reduction in the probability of a violent-crime arrest within 24 months. We find the program's impact in preventing any arrest persists into adulthood, up to four years post randomization. The program moderately improves school engagement in the first year as well. Sub-population analyses suggests that all youth are benefiting from the program, but that the program may be moving different outcomes for different groups of youth in ways related to baseline risk of engaging in the justice system or disengaging from school. We conclude that programs that combine CBT and mentoring can serve as a model to engaging a harder-to-reach population of youth, predominantly outside of school, and be cost effective in reducing criminal justice contact in the longer run.


"Measuring Discretion in Arrests: Evidence from Chicago" with Brandon Domash, Kelly Hallberg, and Cristobal Pinto Poehls 


“How Community Violence Program Staff Develop Social Ties in Heavily Policed Neighborhoods” with Max Lubell and Kelly Hallberg (Submitted to American Sociological Review).


“Providing Intensive Wraparound Supports for Disengaged Chicago Youth: A Randomized Evaluation” with Max Kapustin and Max Lubell 


"The Impact of Free Prison Communication Technology in Prison: An Evaluation of Ameelio" with Ashna Arora, Panka Bencsik, and Omair Gill

An extended abstract describing this multi-year research project is available here


“The Causal Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from a U.S. County” with Alex Bartik, Sarah Miller, Elizabeth Rhodes, and Eva Vivalt


“The Causal Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from a U.S. City” with Alex Bartik, Sarah Miller, Elizabeth Rhodes, and Eva Vivalt


“Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers on Homeless Families: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial” with John Eric Humphries,  Winnie van Dijk and Stephen Stapleton


“Impact of Holistic Legal Supports: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Chicago” with Kelly Hallberg and Ryan Sakoda


“Impact of Alternative Schools in Chicago on Student Outcomes” with Monica Bhatt and Farah Mallah