Illinois Women’s Project

About the Project

NYU student Elena Pereira aided in background research and policy research for a project with the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management’s Litmus Program. This project was a collaboration with the  Women’s Justice Institute (WJI) and Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to develop a set of metrics reflecting WJI’s efforts in designing and implementing gender-responsive practices and policies and IDOC’s operational needs. The project analyzed the impact of IDOC’s discipline, programming, and sentence-credit policies and practices on the release of women from prison. Deliverables included parole process maps to inform diversion recommendations, literature reviews, compilation of model gender responsive policies, and data analysis & visualizations for engagement with IDOC. 

About the Project Organization

“The NYU Marron Institute conducts innovative applied research, working with cities to take on critical challenges of urban living. Litmus, one of the five program at Marron, promotes innovation in the public sector. They work with public agencies and the people they serve to develop and rigorously test new ideas for improving the performance of the public sector. Whether working with agencies focused on criminal justice, education, healthcare, or social services, Litmus aims to change the way that knowledge is created in the public sector.”

About the Student

Elena Pereira is a graduate of the NYU School of Global Public Health having earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.