The Jeff-alytics Podcast

AH Datalytics
  • 4.7 (11)
  • DOCUMENTARY

Can data uncover the real story of crime and justice in America?  Jeff Asher—nationally recognized crime data analyst, co-founder of AH Datalytics, co-creator of the Real Time Crime Index, and author of the Jeff-alytics Substack—sits down with policymakers, academics, journalists, and everyday people to reveal what the numbers actually show. Each episode challenges the myths we believe, exposes the gap between headlines and reality, and asks: what happens when we finally see crime clearly?  New episodes drop every other week! Visit ahdatalytics.com to learn more.

  1. How To Reduce Gun Violence in Cities With Jens Ludwig

    2D AGO

    How To Reduce Gun Violence in Cities With Jens Ludwig

    In this conversation, Jens Ludwig discusses his extensive research on gun violence, particularly focusing on youth violence and the role of the University of Chicago Crime Lab. He emphasizes the importance of using data and behavioral science to understand and address the root causes of gun violence. Ludwig also critiques media representations of gun violence and shares insights from his book 'Unforgiving Places,' which explores the complexities of gun violence in America. He offers practical policy recommendations for reducing gun violence, highlighting the need for community engagement and innovative intervention programs. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The foundations of Jens Ludwig's background in crime research, which began in the late 1980s during the crack cocaine epidemic.The important insights gained from the ‘Moving to Opportunity’ project.The unique role the University of Chicago Crime Lab plays as an R&D partner to government agencies.How government actions in crime prevention lack evidence-based support.What drives Youth violence in premeditated actions?How the 'Becoming a Man' program significantly reduces violent crime arrests among participants.Jens’ perspectives on media coverage and the misrepresentation of the nature of gun violence.How gun violence is a public health crisis, particularly affecting young people.Community engagement is crucial for effective violence prevention strategies.How practical, low-cost interventions can significantly reduce violence rates.Jens Ludwig is the Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and Pritzker director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and author of “Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence” (University of Chicago Press, 2025). Resources: Learn More: Jens Ludwig’s Website Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    44 min
  2. The Science Behind Smarter Policing With Jerry Ratcliffe

    JAN 28

    The Science Behind Smarter Policing With Jerry Ratcliffe

    In this engaging conversation, criminologist Jerry Ratcliffe shares his unique journey from a police officer to an academic specializing in policing. He discusses the importance of evidence-based policing, the challenges of communicating research to practitioners, and the evolving perceptions of crime trends in the U.S. Ratcliffe also highlights significant studies, including the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment and his own Philadelphia Foot Patrol Experiment, which have shaped modern policing strategies.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why Jerry Ratcliffe transitioned from policing to academia.How evidence-based policing is important to modern law enforcement.The challenge of communicating research findings to practitioners.Key revelations from the Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment. Crime reduction data points from the Foot Patrols in Philadelphia.Why year-to-date crime comparisons can be misleading and should be avoided in early months.How the public's perception of crime trends is often influenced by media narratives.Reasons why short-form video content is an effective way to engage with the public about crime research.Ways academics need to improve their communication skills to reach non-academic audiences.Why the future of policing relies on collaboration between researchers and practitioners.Jerry Ratcliffe is a former British police officer, college professor, and host of the Reducing Crime podcast. He works with police agencies around the world on crime reduction, leadership, and criminal intelligence strategy.  ​After an ice-climbing accident ended a decade-long career with London’s Metropolitan Police, he earned a first class honors degree and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. He has published over 100 research articles and eleven books, including “Reducing Crime: A Companion for Police Leaders” and "Evidence-Based Policing: The Basics". Ratcliffe has been a research adviser to the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, an instructor for the ATF intelligence academy, and he is a scientific advisor to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a Professor of Practice and the Faculty Director of the Master of Applied Criminology and Police Leadership in the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania. Resources: Learn More: Jerry Ratcliffe's WebsiteFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    39 min
  3. What We Get Wrong About Crime And Immigration With Dara Lind

    JAN 21

    What We Get Wrong About Crime And Immigration With Dara Lind

    In this conversation, Dara Lind discusses her extensive background in immigration policy and reporting, the complexities of the U.S. immigration system, and the often misunderstood relationship between immigration and crime. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context of immigration policy, the judicial responses to enforcement actions, and the public's perception of immigrants in relation to crime. Lind also shares her personal journey into immigration advocacy and the challenges of effectively communicating these issues in today's media landscape. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Immigration policy often leads to unanticipated consequences.The role of the federal judiciary in immigration enforcement.What statistics truly say about crimes committed by native-born citizens v. crimes committed by immigrants?How the chilling effect on immigrant communities leads to underreporting of crime.Do public perceptions often conflate visible disorder with crime?How individual tragic cases can skew the broader immigration debate.The role of the media in overshadowing positive narratives about immigrants.Rebuilding trust in immigrant communities is a significant challenge for law enforcement.How the attention economy complicates the storytelling around immigration issues.Dara Lind's personal journey into immigration advocacy began with a focus on education.Dara Lind is an immigration policy expert and Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council. Lind has extensive reporting experience covering immigration policy for ProPublica and Vox and co-hosting the Vox podcast “The Weeds.” She has covered immigration in some form since the end of the George W. Bush administration. Resources: Learn More about Dara Lind: Dara Lind’s WebsiteFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    31 min
  4. The Policies Behind Atlantic County’s Safer Streets With William Reynolds

    JAN 14

    The Policies Behind Atlantic County’s Safer Streets With William Reynolds

    Today, Jeff talks with Atlantic County prosecutor William Reynolds about building an efficient, effective, and fair criminal justice system in one of the most interesting places in America: Atlantic City. This conversation explores the significant reduction in homicides in Atlantic County from 2012 to 2025, highlighting the strategies and reforms implemented to achieve this decline. The discussion delves into the factors contributing to the decrease in crime rates and the implications for public safety and law enforcement. William E. Reynolds was nominated to be the Atlantic County Prosecutor by Governor Philip Murphy on May 16, 2022. Assumed the role on June 6, 2022 and was confirmed unanimously by the New Jersey State Senate on August 8, 2022 for a 5 year term. Bill is a lifelong resident of Atlantic County, where he is raising his twin 16 year old boys. Bill's persistence and relentless pursuit of justice is the driving force of his decision making without fear or favor.  Resources: Learn More about William ReynoldsFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    36 min

  5. JAN 7

    The Nation’s Crime Measures with Alex Piquero

    In this engaging conversation, former Bureau of Justice Statistics director Alex Piquero shares his journey from playing in a rock band to becoming a prominent figure in criminology and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. We chat about the importance of crime data, particularly the National Crime Victimization Survey, and the challenges of public perception versus reality in crime trends. Piquero also highlights the intersection of sports and crime research, emphasizing the need for accurate data collection and communication. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Alex Piquero's journey into criminology was serendipitous.What is the role of the Bureau of Justice Statistics in crime data collection?Top revelations from the National Crime Victimization Survey.How all data has inherent weaknesses that must be acknowledged.What are the implications of crime data reporting in the US not being mandatory? The importance of visual communication in crime data reporting.Public perception of crime often differs from statistical reality.What is an essential point of balancing data with human stories in discussions about crime?The interesting trends revealed in Piquero's research, which intersects sports and crime.How Alex views the future of crime data collection with potential budget cuts looming.Alex R. Piquero is Professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology and Arts & Sciences Distinguished Scholar the University of Miami and previously served as the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one of the nation’s thirteen federal statistical agencies (appointed by President Biden, June 2022). Dr. Piquero is a nationally and internationally recognized criminologist with more than 26 years of experience. Over the course of his career, Dr. Piquero has given congressional testimony on evidence-based crime prevention practices and has provided counsel and support to several local, state, national and international criminal justice agencies and elected leaders. His expertise ranges from criminal careers to criminal justice policy and crime prevention to the intersection of race/ethnicity and crime, with a focus on quantitative methodology. Dr. Piquero has published over 500 scholarly articles and several books and is among the most highly cited criminologists in the world. He also served as editor of the Journal of Quantitative Criminology and the Justice Evaluation Journal. He is a Fellow of both the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. In 2019, he received the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Bruce Smith Sr. Award for outstanding contributions to criminal justice, and in 2020, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Division of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology of the American Society of Criminology. Resources: Learn More about Alex Piquero Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    40 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    The Jeff-alytics 2025 Year in Review

    This was a banner year for the Jeff-alytics universe and it's time to recap it! In this episode, host Jeff Asher reflects on three conversations this year that really resonated. This episode highlights the gap between public perception and actual data and emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives in shaping our understanding of crime and public safety. The episode features insights from various guests–Michael Lewis (Storyteller), Larry Krasner (District Attorney), and Susan Parker (Researcher). These conversations focus on points like the personal impacts of crime, the narratives that shape public opinion, and the infrastructure behind crime data collection. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What does the data say, despite the “doom and gloom” crime coverage? How understanding crime requires looking beyond just the numbers.How types of personal experiences shape our understanding of crime and justice.Can language reinforce stigma or restore dignity?The aspects Policymakers often miss when faced with realities of justice-impacted families.What infrastructure behind crime data is crucial for accurate understanding?How crime reporting in the US is not mandatory and leads to gaps in data.The importance of acknowledging the imperfections of data in communicating crime trends.What should be considered when discussing the human impact behind data points?How telling stories from the inside out can change public perception.Resources: Jeff Asher SubstackJeff Asher LinkedInFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    12 min
  7. Episode 10: When Criminal Justice Policy Ignores Lived Experiences with Ifetayo Harvey

    12/17/2025

    Episode 10: When Criminal Justice Policy Ignores Lived Experiences with Ifetayo Harvey

    In this conversation, Jeff Asher and Ifetayo Harvey explore the misconceptions surrounding crime trends, the importance of context in data interpretation, and the stigma associated with drug use. They discuss the need for policymakers to experience the realities of justice-impacted families and the significance of using person-first language. Additionally, Jeff and Ifetayo highlight gaps in data collection within the justice system, particularly regarding health outcomes and the backgrounds of legal professionals. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How crime trends are often misunderstood across various demographics.Why context is crucial for accurate data interpretation.Learn about the root causes for racial disparities in arrests.Are policymakers missing experience in challenges faced by justice-impacted families?The perpetuation stigma in our use of language in crime data discussion.How person-first language is essential in discussions about drug use.Is data collection in the justice system inadequate?How health outcomes of incarcerated individuals need more attention.Learn how the legal profession often reflects socioeconomic disparities.How understanding the backgrounds of legal professionals can inform justice reform. Guest Bio: Ifetayo Harvey is a writer, advocate, and speaker, and the founder and executive director of the POC Psychedelic Collective. She began her writing career as a monthly contributor to her hometown newspaper, The Post and Courier, and later interned with the Drug Policy Alliance, where she spoke at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference about growing up with an incarcerated parent. Her story has since been featured on National Public Radio, and her work spans articles, book contributions, and public speaking focused on parental incarceration, drug policy, and the war on drugs. Through the POC Psychedelic Collective, Ifetayo has built a platform centering people of color in education and community around psychedelics. Outside of her advocacy work, she is a lifelong musician, photographer, soap maker, and needle arts enthusiast. Resources: Ifetayo Harvey’s website Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    27 min
  8. Episode 9: Lessons From Economics on Communicating Crime Data with Paul Krugman

    12/10/2025

    Episode 9: Lessons From Economics on Communicating Crime Data with Paul Krugman

    In this episode of the Jeff-alytics Podcast, Paul Krugman discusses his extensive background in economics, the challenges of communicating economic realities, and the discrepancies between public perception and actual data. He emphasizes the role of media in shaping these perceptions and the impact of social media on public trust in data. Krugman also reflects on the importance of success stories in economics and crime reporting, the changing media landscape, and shares his experiences with the Nobel Prize. He concludes by expressing his current focus on his Substack and the balance between work and enjoying life.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Paul Krugman’s long history in economics, starting from academic research to public writingHow public perception of the economy often diverges from actual economic dataThe truth that stands between people's personal experiences and accurate reflection of the overall economyThe role the media contributes to shaping perceptions of crime and the economyThe impact of social media on the overall trust in dataHow success stories in economics are often underreported in the mediaWhy the changing media landscape offers both challenges and opportunities for communicationThe process and impact of the Nobel Prize experience The importance of communicating complex economic realities effectively Guest Bio: Paul Krugman is a research professor at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, a core faculty member at the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality, and a LIS senior scholar. He previously taught at MIT, Stanford, and Princeton. He is the author or co-author of many academic papers and numerous books aimed at both professional and general audiences, including Market Structure and Foreign Trade, Geography and Trade, The Return of Depression Economics, and Arguing with Zombies: Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future. In recognition of his work on international trade and economic geography, Krugman received the John Bates Clark award of the American Economic Association in 1991, the Prince of Asturias award for social sciences in 2004, and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2008. For nearly 25 years, he was an op-ed columnist and commentator for The New York Times. In December 2024, he reintroduced his Substack newsletter. Link & Resources: Learn more about Paul Krugman on the CUNY Graduate Center website.Follow Paul’s Substack for economic insights and more. Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @realtimecrimeindexYoutube: @Aggregated_RTCIWebsite: www.ahdatalytics.com/jeff-alytics_podcast/

    34 min
See All (17)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Can data uncover the real story of crime and justice in America?  Jeff Asher—nationally recognized crime data analyst, co-founder of AH Datalytics, co-creator of the Real Time Crime Index, and author of the Jeff-alytics Substack—sits down with policymakers, academics, journalists, and everyday people to reveal what the numbers actually show. Each episode challenges the myths we believe, exposes the gap between headlines and reality, and asks: what happens when we finally see crime clearly?  New episodes drop every other week! Visit ahdatalytics.com to learn more.

Information

  • Creator
    AH Datalytics
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Jeff-alytics Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Jeff-alytics Podcast

You Might Also Like