CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

Institute Intelligence, September 2025: Prosecutorial Data in the Great Lakes, Grassroots Investments Pay Off  — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including prosecutorial data in the Great Lakes and grassroots investments that have paid off.

Your Sunday reading is here! ☕

In the September's Institute Intelligence:

⚖️ The Prosecutorial Data Collaborative's work in the Great Lakes
🌱 Grassroots Policy Incubator grantees reflect on their work
📊 The latest jail population data from Safety + Justice Challenge cities and counties.

A Community Worth Investing In: The Inaugural Grassroots Policy Incubator Orgs Bring Innovative Ideas to Life  — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) “This process was about working with grantees, asking them what they needed and helping them get there, not telling them what they had to do with little flexibility.”

While critical to their communities, grassroots orgs often don't have the time or resources to build their capacity to grow, measure & showcase their impact.

The Grassroots Policy Incubator's flexible model was designed to fix that. Read about how it helped three orgs evolve & grow. bit.ly/3WjKSzZ

Inaugural Civic Engagement Fellowship Partners CUNY Students with Bronx Community Organizations to Spark Voter Education and Engagement — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) The Fellows will embed in local organizations for the next two years to develop strategies for empowering and uplifting the voices of Bronx community members in local elections.

Sapna NYC’s service to NYC communities doesn’t end there—they are 1 of 14 orgs hosting Civic Engagement Fellows to build the power of local communities and increase knowledge & participation in the democratic process. Read the announcement: buff.ly/HyyF4dD

NYC immigrants want safer, better-paying work. A major hurdle: building digital skills. Few resources exist to help immigrants navigate an increasingly digital world.

Digital literacy can transform lives in immigrant communities—from finding safer work to navigating the court system to calling family on Zoom. @gothamist.com reports on how organizations like Sapna NYC are meeting a key need by teaching essential skills: buff.ly/G2qn35Q

Two graphs, titled under "Jail Populations Are Down: Since the initiative launched in 2016, SJC sites across the country have significantly reduced their jail populations." The first graph shows that pre-SJC jail populations across sites are 79,009, and as of the last quarter, through July 2025, they are at 64,574.

Cities and counties across the country are reducing their jail populations, safely. Through #SafetyAndJusticeChallenge, we're been tracking progress across sites to measure the impact of these innovative strategies. Dig into the data yourself, now through July 2025. buff.ly/zr2LUf0

Coverage at Risk: Projected Losses in Medicaid and Access Health CT by Town and Community | DataHaven How Policy Changes Could Affect Health Insurance in Connecticut

@datahaven.bsky.social’s review of state and local data in Connecticut makes clear that Medicaid cuts from new federal policies will impact communities all over, but especially low-income residents. See how these changes are likely to widen existing disparities: buff.ly/504R02e

The Trace (@thetrace.org) The Trace spoke to veteran researchers who explained that the president’s strategy to decrease crime in urban cities ignores leading public health research, and sidelines critical suicide prevention…

Since 2020, much has been said about crime in cities—whether it's up, down, the cause. While we should discuss the impact of violent vs "quality of life" crimes, we can't ignore data. @fairrionam.bsky.social on what federal cuts do to places not under the political microscope.

Schools using restorative justice see fewer suspensions, stronger relationships & better outcomes. Done well, it centers both harmed & responsible students, helping build safer, more equitable schools. Hear a CA educator's perspective in Ed Source: buff.ly/o8Kur9R

Good data, stronger Tribes | Brookings This analysis aims to identify the role that regional organizations can play in solving data challenges that exist for Native nations and Native American people.

Data is key to Tribal well-being, but gaps in how it’s collected leave communities, lands, and needs underrepresented. A new @brookings.edu + SCAG report shows how regional organizers can partner with Tribes to strengthen data, sovereignty, and equity: buff.ly/SLbggxh

Health insurance will cost more for millions of Americans — especially rural residents • Stateline A combination of Trump administration policies will make health care coverage more expensive for people who purchase plans from health insurance marketplaces — and rural residents will be hit the…

Rural families will see the biggest jump in health care costs with recent federal policies, with marketplace premiums rising much more there than in cities. Older adults and people with chronic conditions will be hit hardest, per @tcfdotorg.bsky.social: buff.ly/iGWVdxS

‘Worse Than I’ve Ever Seen’: New York Among Slowest States to Pay… And the delays have gotten worse in recent months.

New Yorkers on unemployment benefits are often left waiting during their most stressful times, with just 55% of payments on time in recent months, shares @nysfocus.bsky.social. While many states have faced delays, NY ranks among the most affected. Dive into the data on delays: buff.ly/zQE4MQF

Meet the 2025 Civic Engagement Fellows! This image shows 14 diverse young CUNY students, as well as the college they attend (including John Jay, Lehman, City College, Baruch College, and Hunter College).

The inaugural class of Civic Engagement Fellows have officially started their work in the South Bronx.

For the next 2 years, these @cuny.edu students will embed in community organizations to design and implement strategies that educate and empower voters. buff.ly/i0lhGYL

The 2025 Comprehensive Plan – Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Welcome to The 2025 Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn – a roadmap for long-term, equitable growth across the borough. The 2025 Plan offers a deep analysis of existing inequities in the borough and a…

Calling all Brooklynites: The 2025 Comprehensive Brooklyn Plan is out—using data to spotlight inequities in the borough and set policy priorities to "ensure every Brooklynite is healthy, housed & supported." Explore the blueprint from @bkbpreynoso.bsky.social: buff.ly/kkW0bWJ

CUNY ISLG Review of NYPD Body-Worn Camera Footage finds 19% of Reported Stops Unconstitutional — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) The study assessed how frequently officers who conduct stops violate the Fourth Amendment, examined the conditions in which unconstitutional stops occur, and identified the reasons a stop was…

“Accountability and effective policing are not mutually exclusive. They must go hand in hand."

Our study was the first of its kind to examine police encounters through the lens of their body-worn cameras. See what we found out about constitutionality, race, and reform. buff.ly/LF78u8D

The National Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth went dead. States are scrambling to help. Advocates say mental health issues are rising in that population amid hostility from the Trump administration.

After the LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline shut down this summer, some states are stepping up to ensure youth still get support, including CA’s partnership with @trevorproject.bsky.social to train 988 crisis counselors on LGBTQ+ youth issues. @routefifty.bsky.social shares more: buff.ly/Hgn36Yz

To Confront Homelessness, Base Policies on Outcomes, not Impulse By tying payments for services to results, a successful program in Anchorage demonstrates the impact of a data-driven focus on accountability.

Social services must be based on reality, not fear. An outcomes-based approach—collecting data, elevating participant voices in program design, and adapting programs based on data—has helped support those experiencing homelessness. Governing explains how: buff.ly/KbxK3P2

Disasters and the Gulf Coast, 20 Years after Hurricane Katrina Place-based data about how disasters have affected the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina and the federal government’s role in managing extreme events.

20 years after Hurricane Katrina, federal support for disaster relief remains vital, but state, local, and community-led solutions—and data—are especially critical amidst funding shifts. @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shares two decades of data on disasters in the Gulf: buff.ly/TY0d5yx

There is little data on what is driving the rise in incarcerated women. To reduce jail populations, policies must account for the unique pathways that bring women and survivors of violence into the system. We talk about how to fix both on our blog. buff.ly/OyFSzLO

In prisons, “approximately 70% of the guards are men, and policies and the facilities themselves are generally designed to control male social structures and male violence.” With women in prison drastically rising, @thehill.com explains the implications: buff.ly/97316L7

URBAN AGENDA: New York’s Human Services Workers Deserve Wages That Reflect Their Value This Labor Day, as we honor the contributions of workers across the nation, I’m thinking about a group too often overlooked: the human services workforce.

ICYMI: Like us, Labor Day has roots in NYC, with a parade in 1882 from City Hall to Times Square. With gratitude for the workers who keep the country running, we’re thrilled to see our data on human services pay & employment trends cited in this @nyamnews.bsky.social op-ed.

Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students are Only the First Step: Remaining Gaps & Recommendations for Uplifting System-Involved Students — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) For reentering individuals, the financial burden of pursuing and completing higher education programs begun in prison can be substantial and prohibitive. When surveyed, CIP students (N=114)…

In NY state, the College-in-Prison Reentry Initiative expanded college-in-prison programs across NYS. In our evaluation, we outlined best practices for connecting incarcerated students to postsecondary education and reentry opportunities. Read more.
buff.ly/yDJdqsB

4 states to be selected for effort to improve education, employment post-incarceration • Stateline A nonprofit plans to ask four states to participate in a $19.5 million initiative aimed at transforming how people transition from prison to the workforce.

With Pell Grants restored for incarcerated students and many new college-in-prison programs in development, it's critical to ensure these courses are leading students to real opportunities. @amandavhernan.bsky.social on why we must link learning to career pathways: buff.ly/3TnDAfj

‘They’ve Gone Off the Map’: Fear Drives Immigrants Away From Clinics NYC Care enrollment declines for the first time, as doctors warn that New Yorkers worried about their immigration status are avoiding care out of deportation fears.

A troubling trend is popping up in NYC: immigrants are skipping health care appointments out of fear over immigration enforcement, leaving many without essential care and putting communities at risk. @thecity.nyc explains the NYC Care data and the story: buff.ly/TJDJr1Z

Meet the 2025 Civic Engagement Fellows! This image shows 6 out of 14 diverse young CUNY students, as well as the college they attend (including John Jay, Lehman, CIty College, Baruch College, and Hunter College.

Meet the 2025 Civic Engagement Fellows! This image shows 6 out of 14 diverse young CUNY students, as well as the college they attend (including John Jay, Lehman, CIty College, Baruch College, and Hunter College.

Meet the 2025 Civic Engagement Fellows! This image shows the last two of the full 14 diverse young CUNY students, as well as the college they attend (including John Jay, Lehman, CIty College, Baruch College, and Hunter College.

In a newly launched @nycvotes.bsky.social & ISLG fellowship, @cuny.edu students team up with Bronx organizations to make their voices heard in local elections.

“CUNY students have always been the beating heart of New York City and at the vanguard of community-led change."
buff.ly/i0lhGYL

New report says voter-backed program to reduce crime and incarceration has paid off The report, released by nonprofit Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, concludes property crime has gone down by nearly a third in the state.

In Oklahoma, reclassifying some non-violent, low-level offenses led to a drop in sentencing—and savings from reduced incarceration were funneled into county-level mental health programs, improving outcomes for everyone. @publicradiotulsa.bsky.social has more: buff.ly/Z5sEvd3

What are the Impacts of College-in-Prison on In-Facility Behavior and Post-Release Outcomes? — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) CIP students had statistically fewer substantiated disciplinary incidents compared to non-students at 6, 12, and 24 months following enrollment.

Higher education can change lives, especially for incarcerated students. Since 2017, ISLG & @manhattanda.bsky.social have expanded college in prison across NY. A new analysis is out now, including new data on how college improved safety inside facilities.

Dig into the findings here:

US families shoulder nearly $350B in annual costs tied to incarceration, report finds • Stateline U.S. families lose nearly $350 billion each year due to the incarceration of a loved one in jail or prison, according to a recent report from the criminal justice advocacy group FWD.us. The estimate…

Criminal legal experts often cite communities bear the financial brunt of incarceration. @fwd.us gives another data point. Families face lost income, commissary costs & housing instability, with children hit hardest. Via @stateline.org: buff.ly/NubG0wL

Institute Intelligence, August 2025: Strengthening Public and Human Services, Introducing the Civic Engagement Fellows  — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) A snapshot of the work we’ve done this past month, including the launch of our new Strengthening Public and Human Services landing page, announcing the Civic Engagement Fellows, and the latest…

The 🗞️ latest edition of Institute Intelligence is up! This month, we launched our new Strengthening Public and Human Services page, introduced the inaugural Civic Engagement Fellows, and released the latest research on the impact of college in prison in New York. Read all about it! buff.ly/TUx2IL1

From Research to Action to Successful Outcomes — CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) The Reducing Revocations Challenge aimed to fill the void of information on drivers of revocation through in-depth, mixed-method research in 10 jurisdictions (Phase I) and use what was learned to…

Our Reducing Revocations Challenge tackles these issues by exploring what drives probation violations and developing strategies to meaningfully improve outcomes for those under supervision, while maintaining community safety. Explore what these unique partnerships have accomplished. buff.ly/v0Ibb3m

Home - Supervision Violations and Their Impact on Incarceration Supervision was meant to help people stay out of prison, but too often it sends them back for breaking rules, not laws.

In 2023, 1 in 5 people in state prison were there for a supervision violation—often for missing appointments, not breaking laws.

Supervision was meant to support rehabilitation, but it’s fueling incarceration instead. @csgovts.bsky.social breaks down the data: buff.ly/4ZyKrY4