The Crime, Violence, & Conflict (CVC) sector aims to provide rigorous evidence on the causes and consequences of CVC and identify how policy responses can improve outcomes for those affected.

Worldwide, issues of CVC concentrate disproportionately among vulnerable populations, with detrimental effects on both actors and victims. In addition to these direct costs on society, the uncertainty and risks associated with CVC can discourage economic growth. Moreover, some current efforts to control or reduce CVC may be ineffective and can, themselves, impose substantial social and economic costs on communities.

New findings about human behavior from fields like cognitive psychology and behavioral economics have helped identify promising new policy designs and intervention strategies. A small but growing body of convincing scientific evidence suggests that at least some issues of CVC can be addressed, and that many of these policies are not currently widely implemented.

J-PAL affiliates’ CVC research explores critical questions in this field, including how to cost-effectively improve police performance and perception, help at-risk youth reduce criminal and violent behavior, and reconcile communities in post-conflict fragile states.

The Crime and Violence Initiative (CVI) will foster experimental research on crime and social and political violence. The CVI is now accepting proposals for its first funding. Proposals are due by September 15 and decisions will be announced around November.