In this course, you will investigate big data and policy analysis as it is applied to issues of crime, incarceration, and policing practices. Drawing upon an economic perspective, you will examine policymaking in the criminal justice system and how it affects crime rates and mass incarceration trends. Incarceration has disproportionately impacted people of color in the United States, so you will also analyze trends of inequality in the United States criminal justice system and policing practices. Finally, you will explore how algorithms can be used with big data to inform policy and decision making, and you will practice building regression models to make predictions about crime rates.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Income Inequality and Intergenerational Mobility
• Impact of Racial-Ethnic Segregation on Education and Neighborhood Inequality
• Social and Economic Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic