PhD in Economics (PUC-Rio) and Professor of Public Policy at FGV/EBAPE. Joana held prominent positions in the Rio de Janeiro government, serving as Director of the Public Security Institute (2015-2018) and Chief of Research at the State Public Prosecutor's Office (2019-2021). Previously, she was a Tinker Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago (2023), Visiting Fellow at Columbia University (2021-2022), and Research Fellow at Harvard University (2009-2012). She is affiliated with Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP), invited researcher at J-PAL/MIT, member of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), and board member of the Multidimensional Security School (ESEM-IRI-USP) and LACEA-AlCapone. More information: Website, Lattes, and LinkedIn.

PhD candidate in Public Administration and Government (FGV/EAESP) and Master in Economics (UFRJ). Julia has ten years of experience in public policy, working in both government agencies and academia. In Rio de Janeiro, she served as Deputy Coordinator of the Research Center of the State Public Prosecutor’s Office, as a Public Policy Analyst at the Public Security Institute, and as Executive Manager at FGV, leading projects in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of security policies. She is currently undertaking a visiting doctoral program at the University of Chicago (2023, 2024–2025). Julia has also been a researcher in international organizations such as the IDB, J-PAL/MIT, and the World Bank, and is a member of the Columbia Women’s Leadership Network at Columbia University, The Economy of Francesco, and the Lemann Foundation Leaders Network. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

PhD in Economics (PUC-Rio) and Professor in the Department of Economics at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Specialist in the design and impact evaluation of policies aimed at reducing violence against women and promoting justice. Holds a PhD in Economics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, with a visiting research period at the University of California – Berkeley. Researcher at the Center for Applied Science to Public Security (FGV CCAS), the Family and Gender Economics Society (GeFam), and J-PAL (JOI Brazil and Gender and Economic Agency Initiative). Currently engaged in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of a series of public policies in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Paraná State Department of Public Security (SESP/PR), and the Paraná Military Police (PMPR) to identify effective actions for the protection of women and promote their adoption nationwide. More information: Website, Lattes, and LinkedIn.

Bachelor in Social Sciences (UERJ) and Master in Social Sciences (UFRRJ). Ramón is a professor, researcher, and project manager with over 13 years of experience in using data and scientific evidence to strengthen the institutional capacity of governments and organizations. At Leme, he leads studies on organized violent crime and develops public security interventions. For eight years, he coordinated data-driven projects at the Rio de Janeiro State Public Prosecutor’s Office, supporting institutional decision-making across various areas of the justice system. He has also served as a Public Policy Specialist in the Caminho Melhor Jovem Program (2016) and as a researcher at the Laboratory for the Analysis of Violence (2013–2015). More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

Professional with 25 years of experience in people and process management, working in the financial and human resources areas of global companies. Holds postgraduate degrees in People Management and Financial Management from FGV/RJ and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from UFRJ/RJ. More information: LinkedIn.

Graduated in Accounting Sciences, with a Postgraduate Degree specializing in Auditing and Controllership, and an MBA in Controllership and Finance from Universidade Cândido Mendes. Alexandre has experience in the areas of Treasury, Internal Audit, Accounting, Compliance, Internal Control, Accounts Payable, and Foreign Exchange Operations. For nearly 30 years, he worked in oil and gas companies as well as in a financial institution. He has participated in several accounting/financial projects, strengthening the internal control environment, and establishing partnerships with banks and financial institutions. More information: LinkedIn.

Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences (UFF) and currently pursuing a degree in Psychology (UFRJ). Experienced in organizing courses and workshops, supporting institutional projects, and coordinating with communication teams and faculty. Conducted research on therapeutic communities and drug policies in Brazil. Research interests include the anti-asylum movement, drug policies, race relations, social control, and social movements.

Social Communication student – Radio and TV at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Currently, he works at LEME as a Communications Intern, contributing to content production and supporting the laboratory’s communication initiatives. He develops activities related to audiovisual production, integrated communication, and media management.

Graduated in Social Sciences from the State University of Maranhão (UEMA), she has experience in socio-environmental, cultural, and human rights projects, working with quilombola communities, social movements, and traditional populations in the Legal Amazon. She conducts research on topics such as violence, social inequalities, territorial dynamics, and climate justice, integrating participatory and intersectional methodologies.

PhD candidate in Economics (PUC-Rio) and Master in Economics (UFJF). Ísis has a solid background in impact evaluation methods for public policies and extensive experience in projects and research in the areas of labor economics, law enforcement, gender inequality, public sector economics, and the economics of crime. At Leme, she works on the design and management of projects on domestic violence. More information: Website, Lattes, and LinkedIn.

Master’s student in Political Science (IESP-UERJ) and Bachelor in Social Sciences (UFF). Amsatou has experience in data analysis and public policy research, working on projects in the areas of education, public security, adolescents in conflict with the law and socio-educational measures, electoral inequalities, and political violence. He works on producing diagnostics and evaluations that inform the design and monitoring of public policies. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

Master in Public Policy (University of Chicago) and Bachelor in Public Administration (FGV/EAESP). He has experience in structuring PPP and concession projects in basic sanitation, public transportation, and public lighting (Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas), as well as in research on organized crime in Brazil and Haiti. He has worked on a consulting project for the Inter-American Development Bank and served as a research assistant at the Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago. More information: Lattes.

Master’s degree in Statistics (UFRJ) and Bachelor’s degree in Statistics (ENCE/IBGE). Has solid experience in quantitative research in the areas of public security and the criminal justice system, as well as in the development of data products that guide institutional decision-making. Previously worked as a data analyst at the Institute of Public Security (ISP/RJ), the Research Center of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rio de Janeiro State (CENPE/MPRJ), and at FGV Direito Rio. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

Bachelor in Social Sciences (UFJF), Master’s and PhD candidate in Sociology (IESP-UERJ). Her research focuses on the relationship between the public sphere and public intellectuals. Throughout her career, she has gained experience in academic research, political education, and science communication aimed at diverse audiences. She is currently an editorial assistant at *DADOS – Revista de Ciências Sociais*. At Leme, she works on developing analyses and proposals in the field of public security. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

Master in Public Affairs (Princeton University) and Bachelor in Economics (PUC-Rio). Isabela has experience in research projects across various areas, with a focus on impact evaluation and the use of scientific evidence to design efficient public policies. For four years, she worked in the crime, violence, and conflict sector at J-PAL in Boston (USA). At Leme, she supports the development of public security interventions. More information: LinkedIn.

Master’s student in Justice and Security at the Federal Fluminense University (UFF) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public and Social Security from the same institution. She has worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), served as a Public Policy Evaluation Advisor at the Niterói City Hall, and currently works at LEME as a Junior Public Policy Analyst. She develops research and projects focused on the evaluation of public policies, with an emphasis on social indicators, violence dynamics, and public sector management and governance.

PhD candidate in Economics at Insper, with research funded by FAPESP on the economics of crime and public policy evaluation, focusing on the intergenerational effects of violence against women and the impacts of institutional reforms. She was a visiting researcher at Princeton University in 2024 and holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from FECAP. She has ten years of experience in applied research and econometrics, with academic work at FGV, FECAP, and Insper on topics including crime, labor markets, and the justice system. She is a research associate at LEME Lab (Laboratory for Violence Reduction), where she participates in projects evaluating public policies aimed at violence prevention. She led the NECON-FECAP economic study group and is part of the GeFam (Brazilian Society for Family and Gender Economics) study group, where she designed mentoring programs for young researchers. Her research interests include development microeconomics, applied econometrics, and violence.

Ananda Viana holds a PhD in Sociology from IESP-UERJ, a Master’s degree in Social Sciences from PUC-Rio, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from UFRRJ. Her research focuses primarily on popular economies, labor, gender relations, and urban issues. She has experience in academic research, science communication, and teaching. At LEME, she works on the development of the Municipal Public Security Plan.

Master of Science (USP) with a specialization in Data Science and Machine Learning (PUC-Campinas). Alessandra has 11 years of academic experience, focusing on the development of new technologies and the application of Artificial Intelligence to the study of plankton, with notable contributions to the *Oceanografia Integrada* project of INCT-Mar COI and PETROBRAS’s *Coral Sol* project. She was a member of the ICES Working Group on Machine Learning in Marine Science between 2017 and 2018. Over the past three years, she has worked as a consultant on engineering and data science projects, building relational and non-relational databases, implementing pipelines to optimize processes, training supervised and unsupervised Machine Learning algorithms, and creating dashboards to support decision-making. Her experience spans several sectors, including energy, finance, and retail. More information: LinkedIn.

PhD student in Economics and researcher at the University of Chicago. He has experience working as a data scientist in the private sector and as a research assistant to Dr. Michael Kremer, Nobel Prize laureate in Economics (2019), at the Development Innovation Lab. His research focuses on the intersection of development economics, labor economics, and behavioral economics, with applied projects on criminal markets in Latin America.

PhD in the Department of Government at Georgetown University. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in International Relations, as well as a master’s degree in Data Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). Her research agenda includes projects on armed actors, including police organizations and criminal groups; the micro-dynamics of violence; and conflict outcomes. In addition to Georgetown University, her research is supported by the Fundação Estudar Leaders Program, the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation’s Emerging Scholars Program, the Peace Scholar Fellowship from the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Minerva Research Initiative of the U.S. Department of State. Outside academia, Ana Paula has worked in Brazilian civil society organizations conducting research and advocacy, developing technology, and leading philanthropic strategies at institutions such as the Instituto Igarapé, ImpulsoGov, and Instituto República. She has served as a member of the City Council of Rio de Janeiro since 2021 and was an International Strategy Fellow in the 2024 cohort. More information: Website, Lattes, and LinkedIn.

Master in Economics (UFRJ) and Bachelor in Economics (PUC-Rio). Maria Eduarda is a researcher at the University of Michigan, where she supports the implementation of impact evaluations. Previously, she worked at the Stanford Graduate School of Education on research related to educational inequalities, and at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), contributing to the Gender and Diversity Division and the Labor Markets Division. In the field of public security, she served as a research assistant to Professor Joana C. M. Monteiro at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), with an emphasis on criminal groups and criminal governance. Her research agenda includes projects on criminal groups, domestic violence, and juvenile offenders.

PhD candidate in Economics at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), where he also earned a Master’s degree in Applied Economics. His academic research covers areas such as political economy, economics of crime, and labor economics. During his academic training, he collaborated on auditing and financial investigation activities at the Paraná State Public Prosecutor’s Office, focusing on cases related to public administration. He is currently a data analyst for the *Paraná Seguro* Program, which aims to develop a predictive algorithm for the risk of revictimization of women experiencing domestic violence. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

PhD candidate in Economics (PPGE/UFF) and Master in Regional Economics (PPGER/UFRRJ). Thais Custódio is co-founder and coordinator of the Black Economists Network (*Rede de Economistas Pretas e Pretos* – REPP). She has worked in Brazilian civil society organizations conducting research on public security, crime, armed violence, criminal justice, and human rights, with a focus on the dynamics of favelas and peripheral communities. She has field research experience, and her research agenda includes projects on armed groups and criminal governance. More information: Lattes and LinkedIn.

Master in Communication from the Fluminense Federal University and Bachelor in Journalism from the Carioca University Center. Yasmin is a researcher at the Center for Applied Science to Public Security at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Previously, she was a researcher at the NevCom Research Group – Center for Studies on Violence and Communication (PPGCOM-UFF).

Patrick Burke holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice at Mount Mary University. His research focuses on armed violence among organized criminal groups in drug markets and on the development of intelligence-led policing strategies to reduce such violence. He has published in leading criminology journals, including the *British Journal of Criminology*, *Justice Quarterly*, and the *Journal of Criminal Justice*. His academic work is deeply informed by his previous experience as a police officer in Chicago, a criminal intelligence analyst at the Chicago Police Department, and an investigative journalist covering gang violence. More information: LinkedIn.

Gastón is General Commissioner of the Command Group and the first Superintendent of Criminal Analysis for the Buenos Aires Provincial Police. Since 1996, he has specialized in Criminal Analysis and Mapping and has over 30 years of experience as a criminal analyst. He holds a degree in Computer Science, master’s degrees in Geographic Information Systems, Data Mining, and Knowledge Management, and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Science and Systems. He is a tenured professor at the Catholic University of La Plata and also teaches at Universidad Austral, the Federal Police University Institute, and the National University of Quilmes in the areas of data science, applied technology, and criminology.

Benjamin Lessing is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He studies armed conflicts and governance by criminal groups that do not seek formal state power, such as drug cartels, prison gangs, and paramilitary groups. His first book, *Making Peace in Drug Wars* (Cambridge University Press), examines armed conflict between drug cartels and the state in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. His second book, *Criminal Leviathans: How Gangs Govern From Behind Bars* (under contract with Cambridge), argues that mass incarceration and drug repression have fostered parallel criminal governance within prisons and in urban peripheries. More information: Website.

Professor of Economics and Director of the Research Center on Economics and Finance at Universidad EAFIT in Medellín, Colombia, with a postdoctoral period at the Pearson Institute; Innovations for Poverty Action Peace and Recovery Program at the University of Chicago (USA). He conducts research in crime and violence economics and implements experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations of public policies and interventions aimed at reducing violence. More information: Website.

Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Global Studies at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, and Interim Director of the Center for Studies on Security and Drugs (CESED) in the Department of Economics. He was a Visiting Researcher at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School (2024), where he continues as a Non-Resident Fellow. He is also a Visiting Researcher at the J-PAL Humanitarian Protection and Livelihoods of Displaced People Initiatives and a member of the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) network. More information: Website.

PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics, and Associate Professor at Queen Mary University, London, UK. Previously, he taught at the University of Warwick and PUC-Rio. His research focuses on topics related to public policy evaluation, particularly in the areas of security, crime, and policing. More information: Website.

Associate Professor of Economics and Political Science at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City. His research interests are primarily in political economy and economic development, using both theory and empirics, with a focus on political accountability and voter behavior in Africa and Latin America. Horacio received his PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Florencia is a lawyer specialized in criminal law and criminology, graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Buenos Aires, and holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School. With 25 years of experience in public security and criminal justice in Brazil, she has worked in various sector organizations, including Viva Rio, FGV Direito Rio, Plataforma Democrática, and the Instituto Igarapé, serving as a researcher, program coordinator, and director of institutional relations. She is currently a member of the Advisory Board of RenovaBR, an institute she helped found, and of the Darcy Vargas Foundation. Previously, she served as a consultant for the National Public Security Secretariat (SENASP) of the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, working on the Municipal Security task force. She has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank and as a researcher for the *Justice in Transition* Project at Harvard University.

Lucas has over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector. He is currently CEO of the Behring Foundation, which develops a philanthropic agenda focused on education, technology, and sports in Brazil, with a primary focus on Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro. Previously, he has worked in non-profit, public, and private organizations in Brazil and the United States, including Upstream USA, Chicago Public Schools, The Boston Consulting Group, the Center for Innovation in Brazilian Education, and Instituto Natura. Lucas also serves on advisory and deliberative boards of civil society organizations such as Doebem, 42 Rio, and Rio Aquatics. As a Lemann Fellow and Fundação Estudar scholarship recipient, he holds an MBA/MA in Education from Stanford University, where he also earned a Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation, and a degree in Economics from the University of São Paulo.