Report Series Type

Policy Brief

Showing 1 - 30 of 50 results

Policy Brief

Understanding ICE Surveillance and its Civil Rights Implications

June 17, 2026

Madeleine Gibbons-Shapiro, Master’s in Public Policy ‘27

Recent operations of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) have revealed an extensive web of surveillance technologies and databases of private information that ICE uses to track, arrest, and deport people. ICE contracts with private companies...

image of surveillance camera with green light on

Policy Brief

Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) & Accessibility Best Practices for Michigan Election Clerks

June 3, 2026

Madeleine Gibbons-Shapiro, Master’s in Public Policy ‘27

Every polling place in the United States is required to have an accessible voting machine. Here in Michigan, they are called Voter Assist Terminals, or VATs. A Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) is an accessible, touch-screen device available for voters to ...

A smiling young woman with curly brown hair and a nametag that reads "Volunteer". The woman hands an older gentleman who has fair skin, glasses, and white hair a pair of headphones so that he may use the Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) to vote.

Policy Brief

ShotSpotter Fails on Its Own Claims

May 27, 2026

John Blake, MPP and MS, Environment and Sustainability

On their website, SoundThinking Inc. (formerly ShotSpotter, Inc.), claims that ShotSpotter enables law enforcement to "1) be able to respond to a higher percentage of gunfire incidents; 2) improve response times to crime scenes to better aid victims ...

image of a surveillance camera on a traffic light post

Policy Brief

Bridging the Divide in Cancer Screening for People with Disabilities: Barriers and Recommendations

May 13, 2026

Akshara Karthik, BA Public Policy '26; Jamie Junior, President, Detroit Tenants’ Rights Commission and Vice Chair of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

People with disabilities represent one of the largest and most heterogeneous populations in the United States, spanning all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In fact, nearly one in four American adults (approximately 50 million indivi...

Woman shown getting a mammogram with technician standing by her

Policy Brief

Assistive Technology: An Educational Overview and Recommendations

May 1, 2026

John Blake, MPP and MS, Environment and Sustainability

Executive summaryThis memo briefly describes what assistive technology (AT) is; summarizes how it differs from other accessibility terms; compares the different types of AT; and outlines the legal structures and barriers for supporting and using AT i...

Image of knee scooter with a person's knee and leg in boot cast

Policy Brief

Understanding Quantum Computing and its Policy Implications

March 30, 2026

Saima Rashid, MPP, MS, Environment and Sustainability '27

Quantum computing (QC), once considered simply a part of theoretical physics, has advanced rapidly in the last few decades. The QC industry has entered the "utility era," where quantum systems are beginning to demonstrate practical advantages for spe...

Policy Brief

Guidance for Recognizing Artificial Intelligence in Case Intakes

March 26, 2026

Olivia David, PhD Candidate, School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) ‘27

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly a factor in cases of discrimination statewide in Michigan but can be difficult to discern, due to its novelty and many forms. MDCR officers need tools and knowledge around where and how to identify AI as a...

Image of a family with two children playing in moving boxes

Policy Brief

American Moneyline: Protecting Consumers in the Age of Online Gambling

March 23, 2026

Rebecca Coyne, MPP'26

Expanded access to online gambling is eroding the financial health of low-income Americans. Despite significant private-sector profits and substantial tax windfalls for states, evidence is mounting that these new online markets are driving vulnerable...

gambling dice against a green background

Policy Brief

Where your power comes from: Electric Utilities 101

March 12, 2026

John Blake, MPP and MS, Environment and Sustainability ‘26

This report briefly summarizes the types of electric utilities and energy markets in the United States and examines some of the policy reforms that are open to local communities for each utility type and energy market. The report also outlines two ad...

Policy Brief

AI Ethics Recommendations for Case Managers at OLHSA

March 5, 2026

Rebecca Coyne, MPP'26

Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency's (OLHSA) frontline case managers provide critical aid to vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. When used carefully and responsibly, AI tools may help case managers complete their administrative ta...

Policy Brief

The Vote, the Truth & the AI: How to Spot AI Election Threats

February 18, 2026

Jose Pelaez, MPP '26

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can create images, voices, or texts that look and sound real — but aren't. The misuse of AI is considered voter suppression when it intimidates or misleads voters. Communities historically targeted by voter suppression ta...

Several individuals at voting booths with an American flag in the background.

Policy Brief

Youth Detention Screening Tools: Pitfalls and Recommendations

February 9, 2026

Akshara Karthik, BA Public Policy '26

The state of Michigan's newly implemented Ohio Youth Assessment System Detention Tool (OYAS-DET) weighs factors including family incarceration history and attitudes towards the juvenile justice system that could potentially misclassify some youth as ...

Boy sitting on the couch next to his mom

Policy Brief

Expand Access to Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Michigan

January 20, 2026

Rebecca Coyne, MPP '26

HB 5271 would promote justice in Michigan by expanding access to post-conviction DNA testing for individuals who pleaded guilty under pressure and those who were convicted after the arbitrary cutoff threshold of 2001. Post-conviction DNA testing is a...

Man, woman, and child hugging in celebration

Policy Brief

Cutting Through the AI Hype

January 14, 2026

Rebecca Coyne, MPP '26

Every day, stories about how Artificial Intelligence is "reshaping society" and "transforming the economy" crowd news headlines. These dramatic narratives are rivaled only by even more grandiose claims about how the impending advent of Artificial Gen...

Policy Brief

Smartwatches for Autism Research: Privacy and Surveillance Risks

December 16, 2025

Saipranav Avula, Master’s in Data Science

Executive SummarySmartwatches and wearable devices have become increasingly popular tools for health monitoring, and recent research has explored potential applications for autistic individuals. However, wearable health data is not covered by federal...

Policy Brief

Community Implications of Data Center Development and Tax Incentives

November 25, 2025

Molly Sherry, BA Public Policy

The surge in cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and artificial intelligence is driving a growing need for storage, processing power, and connectivity. Data centers are the facilities that house the servers, routers, cooling systems, a...

Policy Brief

Examining the use of 911 Call Analysis as evidence in criminal proceedings

August 26, 2025

Terry Nguyen, BA in Public Policy, Molly Sherry, BA in Public Policy

The widespread use of 911 call analysis as evidence by law enforcement and in criminal proceedings has raised significant concerns about its scientific validity and its impact on the criminal justice system. Despite lacking robust empirical support, ...

Woman outside of her car on her cellphone at traffic intersection

Policy Brief

Create a Forensic Science Commission in Michigan

August 21, 2025

Cyrus Soonavala, BA '25

Forensic science—or the application of scientific methods and practices to matters of law—can help identify perpetrators of crimes, but if not properly overseen, regulated, and updated according to the latest standards, can also implicate an innocent...

Policy Brief

Keeping Our Streets Accessible at Night

July 29, 2025

Nia Knox, MPP '25

Pedestrians rely on crosswalks to gauge whether a road crossing is reasonably safe. In municipalities that choose to enable it, traffic signals enter late-night flash (LNF) mode when traffic volume is sufficiently low. Not only do late-night flash op...

Policy Brief

What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town?

July 15, 2025

Duc Tuan "Terry" Nguyen, BA Public Policy '25, Ben Green, Assistant Professor, School of Information and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

The rapid growth of data centers, with their enormous energy and water demands, necessitates targeted policy interventions to mitigate environmental impacts and protect local communities. To address these issues, states with existing data center tax ...

Policy Brief

FemTech Landscape and User Privacy Risk/Implications Post-Roe

June 30, 2025

Molly Sherry

The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 has significantly heightened concerns regarding the privacy and security of reproductive health data in the United States. With the increased potential for the criminalization of people seeking abortions, there ...

Policy Brief

Reduce Unnecessary Administrative Costs in Order to Direct More Money to Direct Care Workers and Services

May 28, 2025

Cyrus Soonavala, BA Public Policy ‘25

There is a significant amount of waste regarding Medicaid spending at the Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) and Community Mental Health Services Program (CMHSP) levels in the state of Michigan. This loss leads to fewer dollars being available for ...

caregiver helps young woman with Down's syndrome use an ipad

Policy Brief

Algorithmic prioritization systems for homeless services must have human oversight

March 4, 2025

Cyrus Soonavala, BA Public Policy ‘25, Pelle Tracey, PhD candidate, School of Information

Homelessness is a significant and growing crisis in the United States. In an effort to more efficiently and fairly distribute limited housing resources, jurisdictions across the US have adopted algorithmic prioritization systems to help select which ...

Policy Brief

A Call to Michigan Legislators: Pass Legislation to Create Overdose Prevention Centers

February 24, 2025

Molly Sherry, BA Public Policy '25

A Michigan resident dies every four hours due to an overdose, with opioids being involved in 80% of these cases. The financial burden is equally staggering, with the combined cost of opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose exceeding $41 million...

Two figures seated with just clasped hands showing like part of a support group

Policy Brief

Ensuring Educational Technology Access for Incarcerated Students

January 30, 2025

Molly Sherry, BA, Public Policy ‘25, Mandy Mitchell, Ph.D., Philosophy, Masters in Public Policy

Increased access to Pell college funding for incarcerated students has driven an educational technology (ed tech) gold rush. This memo identifies barriers to providing high quality education to incarcerated students, highlighting the lack of access t...

Female inmates in classroom wearing tan and black

Policy Brief

Election Security Perspectives From Intelligence and Election Cybersecurity Experts

January 17, 2025

Intelligence and Cybersecurity Experts: Javed Ali and J. Alex Halderman, Student Research Assistants: Terry Nguyen, Molly Sherry, and Cyrus Soonavala

Deterring election interference remains an ongoing challenge for national security institutions and election administration agencies. The primary areas of concern are voter registration databases, voting machines, and outdated election infrastructure...

Policy Brief

Surveillance Technology in Public Housing Over-surveils but Under-protects

December 12, 2024

Gretchen Carr, BA Public Policy

This is a one page version of the white paper: "Surveillance Technology in Public Housing: Proliferation, Consequences, and Recommendations." Camera surveillance systems in affordable housing primarily refer to security cameras that may include faci...

Policy Brief

Oral Fluid Drug Tests: Concerns and Recommendations

December 10, 2024

Nia Knox

Impaired driving is an issue affecting Americans every day. A 2021 report found that 56% of drivers involved in car crashes that resulted in a fatality or serious injury tested positive for at least one drug. Polysubstance impaired driving—operating ...

Policy Brief

Case Over the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s Faulty Automated System Finally Settled

August 7, 2024

Gretchen Carr

In late January 2024, Michigan’s Court of Claims approved a long-awaited settlement in Bauserman v. Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), a case investigating the agency’s use of an automated system resulting in thousands of wrongful accusati...

Photo of an unemployment application, keyboard, and pen

Policy Brief

Vehicle Scrappage Policies for Transportation Decarbonization

July 26, 2024

Maxwell Woody

The U.S. aims to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50% (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and to net zero by 2050, in line with international climate agreements. Decarbonizing transportation—the highest emitting sector in the U.S. economy—is e...