After the murder of George Floyd, a national conversation emerged around the use of local government budgets to support public safety. But does investing more in the criminal legal system produce better public safety outcomes than investing in other sectors such as health, education, or community development?
During this webinar, the presenters shared findings from a forthcoming new study that examines local government spending patterns and their connection to public safety outcomes, specifically suicide and homicide. The study focuses on the 50 most populous counties in the Great Lakes region between 2013 and 2019. Using a unique dataset and rigorous statistical methods, the analysis explores whether counties that invested more in non-carceral services—like health, education, and community development—experienced different public safety outcomes. Presenters highlighted key findings on the relationship between spending and suicide rates, whether reallocating resources affect homicide rates, and the broader implications for policy, budgeting, and advocacy.
View the presentation slideshow here.
Thank you to the panelists Dr. Aaron Gottlieb and Cheryl DiMonte.
About The Joyce Foundation
Joyce is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.