Aaron GottliebView profile
Associate Professor
Aaron Gottlieb is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, where he conducts research employing quantitative methods to examine structural determinants of criminal legal involvement, consequences of such involvement, and implications of criminal legal change. His overarching goal is to build rigorous evidence supporting equitable public safety reimagination. Dr. Gottlieb's research spans multiple disciplines including social work, criminology, sociology, public health, and law. His work demonstrates a clear trajectory from examining individual-level factors (like housing circumstances and health insurance effects) to systemic analyses of public defense resources and decarceration efforts. His publications consistently address racial and gender disparities within the criminal legal system, with particular attention to how historical legacies like slavery continue to shape contemporary case outcomes. His research has been cited in major media outlets such as the New York Times and The Atlantic, and he has actively engaged in translating academic findings into public discourse through appearances on 'Chicago Tonight' on WTTW PBS Chicago. Dr. Gottlieb's work bridges rigorous quantitative analysis with practical policy recommendations for criminal justice reform. 2022 Frank R. Breul Memorial Prize from Social Service Review Society for Social Work and Research's Excellence in Research Award 2024 Award for Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Dr. Gottlieb serves as Principal Investigator of the Resource Reallocation Lab, funded by the Joyce Foundation, which examines how public safety resources can be more equitably distributed. Beyond academia, he has served on Chicago's Police Use of Force Work Group and currently serves as a Commissioner on the City of Chicago's Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, where he helps shape local criminal justice policy and implements community-driven public safety initiatives.











