event A Conversation with US HHS Secretary Becerra and California HHS Secretary Ghaly Dec 1, 2022 Almost three years into the COVID-19 crisis, Californians are still grappling with its effects on everything from health to education to the economy. Join Mark Baldassare, PPIC’s president and CEO, along with Xavier Becerra, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, in a wide-ranging conversation about what we learned from the pandemic and what we are doing to ensure greater resilience in the future.
blog post How a New Way of Counting Prisoners Has Changed Redistricting By Jennifer Paluch, Eric McGhee, Heather Harris Nov 2, 2022 For the purposes of drawing state legislative and congressional districts, California now counts state prisoners as residents of their last known address, rather than as residents of prisons. Though the effects are small, communities with large numbers of residents who have been sent to prison now do not lose representation to the few communities in which the prisons are located.
event Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops Oct 13, 2022 Traffic stops are a key factor in racial disparities in law enforcement encounters. PPIC researcher Magnus Lofstrom will present new findings on how disparities in traffic stops differ across agency type, type of traffic violation, and time of day. Then a panel of state and local experts will discuss the challenges of traffic enforcement and alternative approaches that could potentially improve officer and civilian safety while reducing racial inequities.
Report Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Traffic stops have emerged as a key driver of racial disparities in law enforcement and an area of potential reform. Our new report examines whether certain types of traffic stops could be enforced in alternative ways that reduce racial disparities and risks to officers and civilians without jeopardizing public safety.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic stops for non-moving violations—especially those made by local police and sheriff departments—deserve consideration for alternative enforcement strategies. However, any changes need to be balanced against the possibility of hampering efforts to confiscate dangerous contraband, especially firearms.
Report How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy By Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven Sep 19, 2022 Discharge data from emergency departments provide information on where people experiencing homelessness go for hospital care and on the conditions for which they are treated. If linked with data from homeless assistance programs and safety net services, this information can help policymakers make targeted investments and evaluate outcomes.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy By Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ... Sep 19, 2022 As the only guaranteed source of health care open around the clock, hospital emergency departments (EDs) are at the frontlines of serving Californians who are homeless. Linking discharge data from ED visits with data from local and state resources may help policymakers understand and respond to the needs of California’s homeless population.
blog post Crime Trends in Context By Magnus Lofstrom Jun 30, 2022 At a town hall held by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, PPIC’s Magnus Lofstrom discussed what research has found about the consequences of key criminal justice reforms and the pattern of long-term crime trends in California and Contra Costa County.
blog post 2021 Year in Review By Mark Baldassare Dec 16, 2021 The past year has been another deeply challenging one for California and the nation. As 2021 draws to a close, president and CEO Mark Baldassare reflects on the role PPIC has played in providing essential information—and fostering constructive dialogue—on the critical policy issues facing our state.
event Policing in California Nov 4, 2021 Recent debates over police reform have centered on how law enforcement officers engage with the communities they serve—and ways to increase transparency and accountability. PPIC researchers Magnus Lofstrom and Deepak Premkumar will discuss key takeaways from new research that examines law enforcement stops, use of force and misconduct, and the stark racial disparities in police interactions.
