RIPPLE combines substantive expertise in pretrial justice with a broad range of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research skills. Our work can include administrative data analysis, causal inference, surveys and interviews, program and policy evaluation, spatial analysis, and research translation.

Partnering with RIPPLE can complement existing research and analytic expertise or provide additional research capacity when needed. We bring specialized methodological expertise and an independent academic perspective while drawing on the knowledge of those who understand their systems, data, and communities best. When appropriate, we can also work with partners to identify funding opportunities and develop collaborative proposals to support new research.

We can work from a clearly defined research question or help identify one. Partners may come to us with a policy change they want to understand, a pattern they have noticed, an operational challenge, an unanswered question, or simply a sense that something deserves closer examination. Together, we can determine what evidence is needed and develop a rigorous and practical approach to finding answers.

• Which Factors Guide Pretrial Decisions, and To What Extent
  We bring together findings from nearly 100 studies to understand what shapes pretrial decisions and how much each factor matters. We explore whether the factors that should matter do and those that shouldn’t don’t.
• Barriers for Defendants and Visitors Attending Court
  We observed nearly 100 hours of court to examine challenges faced by defendants and visitors, including psychological, learning, and compliance costs, and identify ways to improve attendance and family support.
• The Long-Term Impacts of Posting Cash Bail
  Through interviews one year later, we examine the lived experiences of families and friends who posted bail. We focus on the logistical, financial, relational, and emotional impacts, as well as perceptions of the justice system.
• The Flow of Cash Bail In and Out of Communities
  We analyze how bail payments and refunds flow across communities to identify where they are concentrated. We explore which communities are most impacted and how these patterns reflect local characteristics.
• (Un)Intended Effects of Time-Served Pretrial Credits
  We explore how time-served credit policies can help or harm the justice system. Focusing on the adoption of a 2-for-1 policy, we assess its impacts on pretrial decision-making, case duration and outcomes, and facility crowding.