Causal Research on Community Safety and the Criminal Justice System - Arnold Ventures
Funds rigorous causal research on U.S. community safety and criminal justice policies to generate evidence for fairer, more effective systems.
Funder: Arnold Ventures
Due Dates: Rolling (Letters of Interest)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: median ~$500,000 over 3–4 years; no fixed ceiling; awards range from ~$110,000 to $429,000+
Summary: Funds rigorous causal research on U.S. community safety and criminal justice policies to inform fairer, more effective systems.
Key Information: Letters of Interest accepted year-round; full proposals by invitation only.
Description
Arnold Ventures' Criminal Justice Initiative seeks proposals for causal research projects examining policies, practices, or interventions related to community safety and the criminal justice system in the United States. The aim is to generate rigorous, credible evidence to inform policies that improve crime and justice system outcomes, enhance community safety, and promote fairness and effectiveness in the justice system. Projects must employ strong causal research designs (e.g., difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variable, randomization) and prioritize real-world behavioral outcomes measured through administrative data. The initiative emphasizes research transparency, requiring pre-registration and public sharing of research plans and datasets where possible.
