School of Criminal Justice Professor Joel Caplan Named To Head Research Efforts At Rutgers-Newark

Joel Caplan, a School of Criminal Justice professor whose pioneering data-based work has reduced crime in Newark and other cities, has been named Rutgers-Newark Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Collaboration.

Caplan has forged an international reputation as a co-creator of Risk Terrain Modeling, a crime prevention method that analyzes locations associated with crime, enabling researchers to work with local officials and community members on mitigation. When the method was applied in Atlantic City, it helped reduce violent crime by more than 60 percent in just four months in 2017. 

Caplan also co-founded and served as co-executive director of the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, which applies Risk Terrain Modeling in Newark, pinpointing locations associated with violence and property crimes–such as settings with abandoned buildings, vacant lots, and convenience stores–rather than targeting people. It is credited with reducing crime in Newark and is a key part of the city’s public safety ecosystem. The effort received  $3 million in federal funding in 2023 to expand work with Newark community organizations.

“We are delighted that Dr. Caplan has agreed to lead the incredible team in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Joel‘s experience as a successful researcher and administrator will be invaluable as he works with the office to support Rutgers-Newark faculty,’’ said Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Jeffrey Robinson.

Caplan’s goal is to further develop the potential of Rutgers-Newark as a national model by capitalizing on its legacy of mission-driven interdisciplinary research that addresses critical societal challenges.

“Our strengths lie in leveraging diverse expertise, engaging students at all levels, and fostering innovative collaborations. We aim to amplify technology transfer opportunities stemming from homegrown research and foster research engagements in schools and programs that have opportunities for growth,” said Caplan.

He added, “By hiring and retaining promising faculty, enhancing cross-disciplinary collaborations, and aligning research programs with our mission, we can drive technological innovations, improve funding outcomes, and foster discoveries that directly benefit Newark, New Jersey, and the world.”

Caplan’s work is informed by his professional experience as a police officer, 9-1-1 dispatcher, and emergency medical technician in Cape May, Longport, and Atlantic City. He earned a bachelors of Law and Justice from The College of New Jersey and his masters degree from the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. He received a doctorate from the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Caplan  joined the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) faculty as a professor in 2008 and in 2009 became the Director of the Rutgers Center on Public Security, a title he continues to hold. From 2017 to 2022 he was the director of SCJ’s Masters Program.

In 2019, he became the COO of Simsi, which was founded at Rutgers and is the sole provider of the place-based analytics and community collaboration suite based on Risk Terrain Modeling.
Caplan has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and two books, “Risk-Based Policing: Evidence-Based Crime Prevention with Big Data and Spatial Analytics” (2018) and “Risk Terrain Modeling: Crime Prevention and Risk Reduction” (2016).