Welcome to the legal systems and policy lab

At the Legal Systems and Policy (LSAP) Lab, we aim to advance transparency, fairness, and innovation within justice systems and policymaking through research, data-driven tools, and community involvement. Our work is focused on empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions.

OUR MISSION

To promote fairness and transparency in justice systems and policymaking by conducting research, creating tools, and fostering community engagement. We focus on strengthening systems and providing students with real-world opportunities to contribute to meaningful, impactful work.

OUR valueS

Collaboration: We value partnerships that foster shared goals and collective impact.

Innovation: We develop new solutions to address challenges in justice and policy.

Impact: We focus on solutions that lead to just outcomes for all communities.

researcH AND PrOJECTS

Our research and projects combine innovative research with community-driven projects to foster transparency and engagement in legal systems and policy initiatives. The LSAP Lab tackles real-world challenges through data collection, analysis, and actionable insights.

Current Projects

  • InsightLegi: An AI-Enabled Transparency Tool, including a searchable database of fiscal and legislative data to support policymakers and researchers.

  • Statewide CAFR Analysis: Mapping financial flows and processing data collected during our recent community-led datathon.

Ongoing Research

  • Legislative Impact Studies: Exploring how monetary sanctions impact marginalized communities.

  • Community Collaboration Models: Developing frameworks for inclusive, participatory research. Check out our datathons on Instagram @insight_legi.

WINTER Datathon Highlights

A Look at our InsightLegi’s Winter Community Datathon

Our January datathon was all about empowering participants with tools and skills to address critical justice system challenges, including trasnparency and data access.

Led by Tejaswi K. our Winter DataStorm Team Lead, here’s what we accomplished:

  • Hands-On Learning: Participants gained practical experience in web scraping and data organization.

  • 51 Completed Tasks: Data collected for 8 states, including Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs).

  • Municipal-Level ACFRS for 15 counties in Virginia! Each one contributing to better data transparency and actionable solutions.

  • Next Steps: Prizes for standout contributions will be awarded next week!


Want to be part of our next datathon or learn how InsightLegi can help you build community-driven data projects? Get in Touch today.

Want to Get Involved?

The InsightLegi project is about building community and educating everyone on our legislative system. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out. Whether you’re a student, researcher, lawmaker, or everyday citizen, there are ways you can get involved.

Data Contributor: We’re looking for volunteers in the Washington, D.C. area interested in cleaning and tidying data during one of our many marathons!

Legislative Tracker: Have some legislation you’re especially interested in? Please send us a tip! In our first phase, we’re focused on monetary sanctions and fees. Is there a bill in your state you’re particularly curious about? Reach out so that we can do some analysis.

Student in Need of Hours or Capstone? If you’re a student looking for support with a capstone project, proficient in R or STATA, and would like some hands-on work, please reach out!