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. Talking Comedy And Tragedy with Ferne Pearlstein & Bob Edwards

    3D AGO

    Talking Comedy And Tragedy with Ferne Pearlstein & Bob Edwards

    I thought about doing this episode very soon after starting this podcast. Ferne Pearlstein and Bob Edwards made a documentary more than a decade ago called “The Last Laugh” which talked about how comedy can tackle a tragedy as immense as the Holocaust and what lessons that might suggest for effectively communicating about crime. They interviewed basically every comedy legend you could think of and it’s an incredible film that will make you laugh and cry.  Talking to them and trying to tease out what lessons it might have for understanding and communicating about crime was a conversation that I really wanted to have and one that I really enjoyed. I think you will too.  Ferne Pearlstein is an award-winning producer, director, cinematographer, and editor, based in New York. She is a winner of the Sundance Cinematography Prize, and a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. In addition to her features SUMO EAST AND WEST and THE LAST LAUGH, which she produced, directed, shot, and edited, and both of which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS”s Independent Lens series, she is currently producing JACK WHITTEN: A COSMIC SOUL, directed by Yoruba Richen. Robert Edwards is writer, filmmaker, and the author of Resisting the Right: How to Survive the Gathering Storm, published by OR Books, about how to resist right wing authoritarianism in the US. He wrote and directed the feature films LAND OF THE BLIND, starring Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland, and WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN, (aka ONE MORE TIME) starring Christopher Walken and Amber Heard. Most recently he co-produced and co-directed the feature documentary DEATH & TAXES with Justin Schein, and writes The King’s Necktie, a weekly blog on politics. ASK E. JEAN, director Ivy Meeropol’s feature documentary about E. Jean Carroll, which premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival, and on which Ferne a writer, editor, and supervising producer, will be in theaters this spring.

    30 min
  2. Policing in the Age of AI with Ian Adams

    MAR 11

    Policing in the Age of AI with Ian Adams

    Have you heard about the police department in Utah where report drafting AI interpreted footage from an officer’s body camera of The Princess and the Frog playing in the background of an incident to mean the officer had morphed into a frog?  AI has come a long way in the last few years but it still isn’t perfect. Within AI is the potential for revolutionary disruption of traditional processes, but there is also the danger of relying too heavily on a tool that is only right most of the time for efforts that require perfection or near perfection.  For this conversation, I turned to Ian Adams. Ian is an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina. Before taking his PhD in political science at the University of Utah, he was a police officer and police labor executive. His research is focused on policing, broadly construed, with a focus on behavior and technology. Ian has also researched and written extensively about AI, and today’s conversation is all about the uses of AI in policing, the potential/actual pitfalls, and where this technology might be heading in the world of criminal justice.  If you’re interested in some extra credit work, two papers related to this topic you should check out are: Adams, I. T., Barter, M., McLean, K., Boehme, H. M., & Geary, I. A. (2024). No man’s hand: Artificial intelligence does not improve police report writing speed. Journal of Experimental Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-024-09644-7Adams, I. T., McLean, K., & Alpert, G. P. (2026). Improving police behavior through artificial intelligence: Pre-registered experimental results in two large US agencies. Criminology, 0(0), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.70028To get in touch or peruse peruse different papers/projects/dashboards, Ian’s website is ianadamsresearch.com.  And while you’re here, be sure to check out these other recent great episodes: Politics podcaster Galen Druke Arnold Ventures Executive Vice President Jennifer Doleac FBI Assistant Director Timothy Ferguson Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams Resources: Learn More: Ian Adam’s USC ProfileFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    45 min
  3. How Crime Data Shapes Political Narratives With Galen Druke

    MAR 4

    How Crime Data Shapes Political Narratives With Galen Druke

    Today’s guest is Galen Druke, host of the GD Politics podcast and one of the smartest voices out there talking about the intersection of politics and data. This episode’s mission was simple: do the most terrifying thing imaginable for your intrepid podcast host and try to talk about the role of politics on how we talk about and perceive crime.  There’s a national election coming up in November and we discuss whether the nation’s crime trends will play a role or if the fact that crime is dropping will make it a political non-issue for the midterms. I don’t delve into politics often so it was good to have a knowledgeable guide like Galen for this terrific conversation.  Galen Druke is the host of the GD POLITICS podcast, which aims to explain politics and the world with curiosity, rigor and a sense of humor. He previously covered elections for 10 years at FiveThirtyEight, where he hosted their popular politics podcast. While you're here, be sure to check out these other great recent episodes of the Jeff-alytics podcast! Arnold Ventures Executive Vice President Jennifer Doleac FBI Assistant Director Timothy Ferguson Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    43 min
  4. How Research Is Reshaping Criminal Justice Policy With Jennifer Doleac

    FEB 25

    How Research Is Reshaping Criminal Justice Policy With Jennifer Doleac

    Today, I'm talking with my friend Jennifer Doleac about how research makes better choices in criminal justice policy possible. This is very evident in her new book (out this week!) called 'The Science of Second Chances' which I'd highly recommend as an engaging, approachable read on a critical topic.    We talk about her transition from academia to Arnold Ventures and the importance of evidence-based policy in criminal justice reform. We also discuss the need for leniency in handling first-time offenders, the significance of swift and certain consequences in deterring crime, and the role of DNA technology in solving crimes. It's a great conversation about following research to improve policy decisions.  Jennifer Doleac is an economist and the Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy focused on evidence-based policy in the US. She is the author of THE SCIENCE OF SECOND CHANCES, and the host of Probable Causation, a podcast about research related to crime and criminal justice policy. She is a leading expert on the economics of crime, and a vocal proponent of using rigorous research to inform policy. Resources: Learn More: Jen Doleac’s WebsiteFollow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    38 min
  5. Inside the FBI’s Crime Data Reporting With Assistant Director Tim Ferguson

    FEB 18

    Inside the FBI’s Crime Data Reporting With Assistant Director Tim Ferguson

    I started tracking national murder trends in 2015 with a spreadsheet and data from around 25 random agencies that published at different cadences. That spreadsheet became a Google Sheet which became a dashboard with around 100 agencies with murder data which became the Real-Time Crime Index with seven categories of crime data from around 550 agencies nationwide.  A sample of that size and quality is only possible because of massive advances in how the FBI collects and publishes crime data over the last few years and today I am talking with the man in charge of that operation: FBI Assistant Director Tim Ferguson.  Tim runs the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division which, among other things, produces the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. CJIS has made dramatic leaps in producing fast, accurate crime data that makes it possible to better understand our crime trends in near real-time.  Tim shares his unexpected journey from a small farming town in Illinois to a leadership role within the FBI, detailing his diverse experiences in law enforcement, including violent crime and narcotics investigations. He emphasizes the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing new challenges, which ultimately led him to his current position at CJIS, where he oversees a vast array of services and technologies that support law enforcement across the nation. This is a special, inside look at how the crime data sausage gets made. And be sure to check out these other recent great episodes of the Jeff-alytics podcast! Jason Williams Jens Ludwig Jerry Ratcliffe

    48 min
  6. Transforming Criminal Justice in New Orleans with District Attorney Jason Williams

    FEB 11

    Transforming Criminal Justice in New Orleans with District Attorney Jason Williams

    As the District Attorney in New Orleans, Jason Williams is faced with a nearly impossible task. He must balance the job of being the prosecutor in a city that has had one of the nation’s highest murder rates for more than 30 years with the imperative of righting the wrongs of an office that has not always operated fairly.  Jason led the New Orleans City Council’s Criminal Justice Committee when I was a public safety consultant for the council, so it was a great joy to get to talk to him about his work in New Orleans as he approaches the end of his first term.  In this conversation, we discuss the challenges of balancing crime reduction with justice and how the innovative “N.O.D.I.C.E” program (New Orleans Data Informed Community Engagement) addresses the geographic footprint of crime in New Orleans. Jason emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making, community engagement, and the myriad of challenges stemming from non-unanimous juries in Louisiana. The Honorable Jason Rogers Williams was sworn in as District Attorney of Orleans Parish on January 11, 2021. He is a proud Tulane University Law School Alumni. After graduating law school, he started his own law practice focused on criminal defense, Jason Rogers Williams and Associates. After winning a series of high-profile criminal cases, the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Jason as a judge in New Orleans’ Criminal District Court. In 2014, he saw an opportunity to make government work for the people of New Orleans and ran for City Council. He was a council member for six years, four of which he served as Council President, before being elected District Attorney on a promise of sweeping justice reforms. Jason is a proud and devoted father to three children: 5-year-old Xavier, 17-year-old Graham, and 23-year-old Zoe. He lives in uptown New Orleans with his wife, Liz, founder of the Center of Resilience, his youngest son, and a very sweet but very bossy pit bull, Jean Louise.  Resources: Learn More: Jason Rogers Williams’ Website Follow the Jeff-alytics Podcast: Instagram: @RealTimeCrimeIndexLinkedIn: Real-Time Crime IndexWebsite: The Jeff-alytics Podcast

    35 min
  7. How To Reduce Gun Violence in Cities With Jens Ludwig

    FEB 4

    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
  8. 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
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4.7
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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
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Jeff-alytics Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Jeff-alytics Podcast

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