Samuel Peterson

Samuel Peterson
Policy Researcher
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in criminal justice, University of Cincinnati

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Samuel (Sam) Peterson is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He has broad interests in topics within and outside of criminal justice. His most recent research includes estimating state-level household firearm ownership, estimating state-level hospitalizations for gunshot injury, evaluating NYPD's Neighborhood Policing philosophy, evaluating police-led diversion efforts, a tabletop exercise to improve police-community relations, research to understand persistent neighborhood violence, and research to understand the formation and impact of subgroups (cliques) within the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department. 

Peterson also has prior research experience in gun violence prevention, sexual assault at American colleges and universities, school-based victimization among adolescents, and substance use within adolescent social networks. His applied research experience includes working with a variety of criminal justice and community stakeholders. Peterson completed his Ph.D. in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati. 

Recent Projects

  • Understanding Subgroups Within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
  • Evaluation of NYPD's Neighborhood Policing Philosophy
  • Reducing Violence in Communities: An In-Depth Study of Efforts in Durham, NC and Minneapolis, MN
  • Gun Policy in America
  • Creating a Tabletop Exercise for Police-Community Relations

Honors & Awards

  • Silver Medal Award, RAND

Publications