Ben Struhl

Ben Struhl is the Executive Director of the Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP) at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, he collaborates with governments and non-profits globally to leverage research evidence in addressing health and safety challenges, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The CJP focuses on crime prevention, criminal justice reform, and community engagement to ensure that policies respect and uplift local constituents.1

Struhl oversees a variety of projects, including violence prevention initiatives and prosecutorial reform, while managing significant efforts in cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Oakland, and San Francisco. His work also includes national and international policy collaborations with organizations like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).1

Before his tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, Struhl was the Executive Director of the Center on Crime and Community Resilience at Northeastern University, where he led projects in multiple U.S. cities and several countries in the Caribbean and South America. He also played a pivotal role at MIT’s Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), where he established a division focused on crime research and served as the policy lead for J-PAL's North America office. His experience includes working for the Mayor of Boston, Boston Public Schools, and as a data analyst for President Barack Obama. Struhl holds a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Brown University.12