Gang Wars: The Failure of Enforcement Tactics

This report attempts to clarify some of the persistent misconceptions about gangs and to assess the successes and failures of approaches that have been employed to respond to gangs. We undertook an extensive review of the research literature on gangs because we believe that the costs of uninformed policy making -- including thousands of lives lost to violence or imprisonment -- are simply too high

Disparity by Design: How Drug-free Zone Laws Impact Racial Disparity -- and Fail to Protect Youth

Thanks to the work of concerned policymakers and reform advocates across the country, public discussions have been sparked in many states about the fairness and efficacy of drug-free zone laws. This report is designed to inform those discussions by reviewing empirical findings, primarily from three states -- Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut -- where enough information is available to answer key questions. The report also documents efforts by policymakers and advocates in a few other states -- Illinois, Utah, and Washington -- to challenge long-held assumptions that drug-free zone laws are protecting children and enhancing public safety