What We Get Wrong - and Why - About Public Health and Social Justice: a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Harold Pollack

"Meeting our current challenges requires that we reform and strengthen criminal justice systems, following where the evidence leads to promote public safety, and to integrate such measures within the broader portfolio of economic development, health, and social services to address the causes and consequences of crime.  Meeting these challenges also requires active collaboration among the public health, social work, and law enforcement communities."  Engaging the Victim’s Voice in Public Safety ResearchDr. Harold Pollack, one of the foremost authorities on public health and social justice, joins us to share insights from his decades of work on harm reduction, restorative justice, and community engagement. We discuss: How his training as an electrical engineer applies to his work. Why public policy experts must improve how they communicate - clear, relatable messages are far more effective at building public support. His collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems (calling them “the best at what they do,” with special praise for their exceptional communication skills. Thank you, Dr. Pollack). The critical importance of listening to victims' voices.  Harsh treatment serves no useful purpose—a more meaningful way to honor crime victims is to truly listen to them, address their needs, and respect their values. The persistent resistance to harm reduction strategies, in contrast with their proven effectiveness (such as syringe exchange programs in preventing HIV transmission and reducing overdose deaths). What both the political right and left often get wrong on these issues—with thoughtful prescriptions for bridging the divide, at least in the realms of public health and social justice. How his book "The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated" (2016) connects to his public health work.  How the rise of AI intersects with public health and social work.   Dr. Harold Pollack is the Helen Ross Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and the faculty codirector of the University of Chicago Health Lab. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Pollack’s writing has appeared in the New Republic, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, Politico, Vox, among other leading publications.