NEW ORLEANS, LA - On Monday, July 27, 2026, the Criminal Justice Committee convened to receive a presentation on the effects of poverty on crime by Director of U.S. Public Policy Brian Brox's class at Tulane University for its U.S. public policy summer class.

Presentation on the Effects of Poverty on Crime

Tulane University students Lilian Loftin, William Kesterson, Avery Burks, and Bellamy Parker, along with Professor Brian Brox, gave a presentation before the committee regarding how a living wage could mitigate crimes of necessity in New Orleans.

The presentation argued that improving economic security should be treated as a key public safety strategy in New Orleans by addressing the economic conditions that contribute to "crimes of necessity," including petty theft, burglary, robbery, carjacking, and other offenses driven by financial hardship.

The study highlighted population decline, rising cost of living, and widening gap between wages and living expenses, and noted that the current city minimum wage falls short of the estimated living wage required to afford basic necessities in Orleans Parish.

Using case studies from Providence, Rhode Island; Washington, D.C.; and Savannah, Georgia, the presentation found that neither higher wages nor policing alone is sufficient to reduce crime over the long term. Proposed policy options included raising the city's minimum wage, providing housing assistance to city employees, and pairing economic investments with targeted public safety initiatives.

Overall, the study concluded that economic security plays an important role in public safety. The findings suggested that addressing financial hardship alongside targeted law enforcement strategies may be more effective than relying on either approach alone, with the strongest outcomes occurring when economic stability is incorporated as a central component of crime prevention efforts.

To view the full presentation, click here.

To view the meeting agenda, click here.

To view the full meeting, click here.

To watch a recap of the committee meeting by the Committee Chair, click here.