In this episode of Justice Insights from the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, scholars explore the overlooked role of Black Funeral Home Directors (BFHDs) in reducing gun violence and premature deaths. The conversation highlights staggering disparities—such as Black teen boys facing homicide rates more than 25 times higher than their white peers—and examines how BFHDs, as trusted community leaders, can partner with social workers to deliver trauma-informed care and violence prevention. This episode underscores the power of culturally grounded institutions to break cycles of grief and create safer, healthier communities.

You can find all current episodes of our Justice Insights podcast on our website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, serving as a crucial platform for sharing research from the academic sphere to the public space. There has never been a better time to disseminate facts and solutions, making these insights accessible to a broader audience outside the ivory tower.

In this episode of Justice Insights from the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, scholars explore the overlooked role of Black Funeral Home Directors (BFHDs) in reducing gun violence and premature deaths. The conversation highlights staggering disparities—such as Black teen boys facing homicide rates more than 25 times higher than their white peers—and examines how BFHDs, as trusted community leaders, can partner with social workers to deliver trauma-informed care and violence prevention. This episode underscores the power of culturally grounded institutions to break cycles of grief and create safer, healthier communities.

You can find all current episodes of our Justice Insights podcast on our website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, serving as a crucial platform for sharing research from the academic sphere to the public space. There has never been a better time to disseminate facts and solutions, making these insights accessible to a broader audience outside the ivory tower.

In the latest episode of the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, researchers from CJR and Baylor College of Medicine examine how racialized economic segregation influences stillbirth disparities in Houston. Using census tract-level data and the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), the episode reveals that neighborhood privilege lowers stillbirth risk for White mothers but not for mothers of color. Additionally, it highlights how factors like low maternal education, obesity, and residential segregation only partially explain the racial gap, pointing to deeper systemic disparities in maternal health.

You can find all current episodes of our Justice Insights podcast on our website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, serving as a crucial platform for sharing research from the academic sphere to the public space. There has never been a better time to disseminate facts and solutions, making these insights accessible to a broader audience outside the ivory tower.

In the latest episode from the Justice Insights podcast by the Center for Justice Research (CJR) at Texas Southern University, researchers from CJR and Stetson University utilize zip code-level data to examine the relationship between economic factors and crime rates in Houston, Texas. The episode highlights a significant correlation between unemployment and violent crime and explores connections between poverty, population density, and property crime rates. Additionally, it delves into a surprising finding: higher academic performance is associated with increased property crime rates. This comprehensive analysis underscores the potential benefits of enhancing economic and educational opportunities in underprivileged areas to effectively reduce crime rates.

You can find all current episodes of our Justice Insights podcast on our website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, serving as a crucial platform for sharing research from the academic sphere to the public space. There has never been a better time to disseminate facts and solutions, making these insights accessible to a broader audience outside the ivory tower.

In this episode of Justice Insights, we examine Texas's ongoing voter suppression issues that heavily impact justice-involved and minority communities. Our researchers discuss historical and recent obstacles, including strict ID laws and limited polling sites, which disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic voters in Harris County. Tune in as we explore the critical need for policy reforms to ensure fair voting access, empowering communities and supporting successful reentry efforts.

Dive into our latest podcast episode, which examines the vital research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) focused on combating the growing crisis of substance use and overdose among justice-involved individuals. Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from various institutions, this initiative strives to translate scientific insights into actionable strategies to enhance policies, practices, and programs within the criminal legal system. The comprehensive approach includes stakeholder engagement, research dissemination, implementation research, pilot grant funding, education, and technical assistance, all aimed at reducing overdose risks and improving health outcomes for those involved in the criminal justice system.

Listen to our latest podcast episode to explore a significant study led by Dr. Howard Henderson and Dr. Carrie Pettus. This research investigates the impact of pretrial release decisions on jail populations and crime rates in Texas, particularly during the unique conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing advanced causal inference methods, the study examines the relationship between pretrial policies and criminal justice outcomes. By analyzing data on jail populations, crime rates, and pretrial misconduct, the researchers aim to produce findings that can guide policy-making, improve pretrial decision-making, and promote fair and effective practices within the criminal justice system.

Explore our latest podcast episode, where we dive into a study that builds on prior research into the factors influencing gun possession among Black youth in urban, high-crime areas. This episode delves into how these factors might differ based on gender, involvement in the criminal justice system, and geographic location. Through qualitative interviews with Black youth, both within the community and those incarcerated for weapons charges, the research seeks to shed light on the unique needs and challenges faced by different groups. The findings aim to inform targeted policies and practices to address gun possession among urban Black youth effectively.

Explore our new podcast episode, where we delve into the collaborative effort between the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University and the Smart Suite Researcher-Practitioner Fellows Academy at Michigan State University. This episode highlights their work to boost diversity and inclusion within criminal justice research by developing a searchable database of researchers who employ culturally responsive methods. Additionally, the collaboration offers training and support to researchers, encouraging them to work with diverse communities effectively. We also discuss their ongoing efforts to form new partnerships to broaden the scope and impact of the Smart Suite program.

Discover our new podcast episode that dives into an ambitious initiative funded by several organizations to reform the criminal justice system. This episode highlights the drive to empower prosecutors with data-driven strategies that advance public health and promote racial equity. The effort will focus on developing and evaluating diversion programs as alternatives to incarceration, particularly targeting communities disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. Utilizing quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the effort aims to understand the impact of these programs. Collaboration with community organizations, academic institutions, and prosecutors' offices will ensure the research is tailored to the community's needs and produces practical outcomes.

Explore our latest episode, where we delve into our efforts at the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University to promote diversity in criminal justice research and education. This episode focuses on our specialized training programs designed to empower Black graduate students and faculty, fostering greater inclusion and perspective in the field. The program will focus on equipping these scholars with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct culturally relevant research, specifically on evaluating diversion programs within the criminal justice system. The project aims to create a supportive network for these scholars, foster their growth, and ultimately contribute to systemic change within the field.