McCourt School’s new research lab aims to reshape criminal justice policy
The Evidence for Justice Lab at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy aspires to address critical societal challenges from police recruitment and retention to public safety.
Andrea M. Headley is an assistant professor and faculty director of the Evidence for Justice Lab.
Founded by Dr. Andrea M. Headley , an assistant professor at the McCourt School and affiliate fellow at the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law, the Evidence for Justice Lab (E4J Lab) is invested in understanding the complex dynamics of the U.S. justice system and its impact on society. The new initiative expands on the central premise of Headley’s research to identify policies and practices that promote safety and justice for all, especially historically marginalized groups.
“The E4J Lab’s mission is about using evidence, informed by data and lived experience, to inform policy and practice in criminal justice and promote community safety,” said Headley.
Her previous work has focused on improving police-community relations, assessing the effect of race during use-of-force encounters, evaluating body-worn cameras, identifying organizational strategies that impact employee well-being and workforce development, understanding national police reform commissions, analyzing dispositional outcomes in citizen complaints and exploring the gendered norms and cultures in policing.
The E4J Lab aims to identify the innovative ways that governments, nonprofit organizations and communities can enhance public safety. This holistic approach is reflected in the Lab’s research portfolio , which includes assessing civil summons patterns in New York City, evaluating a new community policing approach in San Antonio, Texas, and exploring the implementation of AI technologies in the justice system.
Led by Headley and Lab Manager Vinuri Dissanayake (MPP’25), the E4J Lab team is an interdisciplinary group of research assistants, including students of public policy, data science, law and anthropology, among other fields.
“We engage students from multiple disciplines because criminal justice policy intersects with many policy areas, and meaningful change requires diverse perspectives,” said Headley.
Research assistants like Tyler Johnson (MPP’25) contribute to research projects and engage in professional development activities throughout the academic year.
Tyler Johnson (MPP’25), a second-year student in the Master of Public Policy program, is a research assistant at the Evidence for Justice Lab and a Tech & Public Policy Scholar.
“The E4J Lab has been a great opportunity to expand my research experience and connect with policy leaders. I also appreciate the supportive community Dr. Headley has fostered among our cohort,” said Johnson.
To commemorate its launch, the Evidence for Justice Lab held an inaugural event in February 2025 featuring Gregory Jackson Jr., former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Jackson, a survivor of gun violence in Washington, DC, has been a leading voice, policymaker and activist on gun violence prevention for more than a decade.
Assistant Professor Andrea M. Headley led a discussion with Gregory Jackson Jr., former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, at the Evidence for Justice Lab’s inaugural event.
“In the coming months, we plan to engage students across the Georgetown University community in critical discussions on justice,” said Dissanayake. “We will also seek collaboration with research partners, government organizations and students to produce and share innovative research.”
Learn more about the Evidence for Justice Lab and upcoming events and opportunities here.