Crime, Justice, and Death

Science and the Law This panel addresses topics in acute need of policies that are based on scientific evidence: crime, justice, and premature mortality. The first speaker will discuss the effect of risk factors included drug dealing,<<Au: Should “The first speaker will discuss the effect of risk factors included drug dealing” read “The first speaker will discuss the effect of risk factors included in drug dealing”?>> alcohol use disorder, and gang membership on premature mortality. Longitudinal data on 1,829 delinquent youth showed that 111 died -- mostly from firearm homicide -- within 16 years. Mortality rates were 2–10 times higher than the general population, depending on age, gender, and ethnicity. The second speaker will discuss the effect of victimization on premature mortality. Population-based case-control data showed men who were victims of violence were 2.6 times more likely than those who were not to die within 1 year and 3.2 times more likely to die of homicide. The final speaker will discuss the effect of contact with the criminal justice system on premature mortality. Mortality data show a racial divide among young men: violence claims blacks, and drugs claim whites. The panel will discuss a study on how criminal justice policies influence these outcomes. Together, these studies have direct implications for evidence-based policymaking, including improving scientific measurement and design and providing sound evidence for effective policy and harm-reduction interventions.