Can you think of some criminal justice problems for which lack of data is not the problem? There are many great proposals for producing more sophisticated and timely data. Would these improvements help create more will for reform?

Nazgol Ghandnoosh I actually dont think that lack of data is the biggest hurdle for reform in most circumstances. What we lack is political will, and it’s rare that political will is created primarily via data. What changes political will are changes to political incentives and electoral outcomes.

@UdiACLU Nazgol Ghandnoosh Relatedly, the culture inside most law enforcement offices--esp. police and prosecutors--is heavily incentivized toward arrest, prosecution, and incarceration--not to mention a deep disdain for one's fellow traveler. For this we need different people and better alternatives.

@UdiACLU Nazgol Ghandnoosh Data always helps, but waiting on it is unnecessary.

Somil Trivedi @UdiACLU Nazgol Ghandnoosh I always think of the cycle of data in OK. The lege or Gov decides they need data to enact reform, a study is convened, results reported, no action, & then they decide they need more recent data. Here, need for data is repeatedly used as a stalling tactic.
nondoc.com/2019/04/09/too…