The epidemic of gun violence in the United States is a multifaceted problem that claimed nearly 47,000 lives in 2023. Firearm injuries and deaths touch countless others as well – from bereaved family members to affected communities suffering the collective loss and trauma of everyday gun violence. In a nation where private ownership of firearms […]
Jennifer Melton
Highlights from our Beyond Bars Event
We were so grateful to partner with the Nasher Museum to host an event in conjunction with the exhibit Processing Systems: Numbers by Sherrill Roland. The exhibit features work by Sherrill Roland, Assistant Professor of Sculpture at the University of North Carolina from his ongoing exploration of the criminal justice system. The works are part […]
Out now! Our 2023-2024 Annual Report
We are delighted to release our 2023-2024 annual report, which details our work over the last fiscal year! We’ve expanded our work in both the policy and the research arenas across all our focus areas: accuracy of evidence, behavioral health, and equity in criminal outcomes. We’ve worked on projects related to bail reform, criminal fines and […]
Our 2023-2024 Annual Report
Upcoming Panel Event: Perspectives on American Gun Violence
Perspectives on American Gun Violence: Finding New Synergies for Problem-Solving from Public Health, Public Policy, Crime Control, Economics, Justice, Advocacy, Politics, and the Media Date: November 19, 2024 Time: 12pm – 1:30pm Register Here The epidemic of gun violence in the United States is a multifaceted problem that claimed nearly 47,000 lives in 2023, accounting for […]
Recap: Community-Based Approaches to Gun Violence
“I’ve never met a single person who has come from prison for killing someone with a gun, who hasn’t been harmed at some point in their life,” said Co-Chair of the Durham City and County Taskforce on Community Safety Marcia Owens. Her comment gets to the heart of an issue surrounding gun violence. How can […]
Changing the Route
New Wilson Center report explores alternatives to law enforcement transport for people experiencing behavioral health crises
For too many people experiencing acute mental illness, cries for help bring police and handcuffs rather than compassionate medical intervention. But this doesn’t have to be the case. The Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law explores this issue and makes recommendations in our latest report: Changing the Route: Seeking Compassionate Alternatives to […]
Wrongful Convictions in North Carolina
New Report: Wrongful Convictions in North Carolina
Today marks International Wrongful Convictions Day – a day designed to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions and to shed light on the tremendous harms wrongful convictions have on individuals, their families, and communities. Since 1989, 75 people have been exonerated in North Carolina. Collectively, these exonerees lost 963 years to […]