Anthony A. Braga is the Jerry Lee Professor of Criminology and the Director of the Crime and Justice Policy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on fairness and effectiveness in policing. Braga is a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology and the recipient of its August Vollmer Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of criminal justice. He has also received multiple awards from practitioner organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police Excellence in Law Enforcement Research Award and the U.S. Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Partnerships and Public Safety.
Philip J. Cook is Sanford Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Duke University. He is one of the first scholars to undertake research on gun violence prevention. In 2020, his contributions in this area were recognized by the award of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology. Other honors include
election to the National Academy of Medicine (2001) and as Fellow of the American Society of Criminology. He has made substantial research contributions to criminal justice policy, alcohol control policy, commercial gambling, and the causes of income inequality, as well as evaluation methods. He has consulted with several federal law enforcement agencies.
In many U.S. cities, gun violence is the most urgent crime problem. High rates of deadly violence make a city less livable, dragging down quality of life, economic development, and property values. Drawing on fifty years of research and practical experience, Policing Gun Violence argues that it is possible for the police to create greater public safety while respecting the rights of individuals and communities. Anthony A. Braga and Philip J. Cook identify the most beneficial evidence-based practices, offering a comprehensive guide for deploying the authority and considerable resources of the police to reduce gun violence.