Research

My current research agenda focuses on the political economy of development in Latin America, with an emphasis on peacebuilding, political participation, and labor informality. I use a mixed-methods approach, including statistical analysis of surveys and administrative data, machine learning, and qualitative interviews. Prior to graduate school, my research at the Urban Institute focused on victim services, policing, and crime prevention, particularly in the United States.

Works in Progress

“The Paradoxes of Participatory Peacebuilding in Colombia.”

“Leaving Informality Behind? The Politics of Precarious Work in Contemporary Latin America.”

“The Role of Professional Referrals in Domestic Violence Survivors’ Access to Victim Compensation.” with Malore Dusenbery

“Outcomes of Victim Compensation Claims for Domestic Violence in Three States.” with Malore Dusenbery

Selected Publications

Implementation of the VictimConnect Resource Center. Dusenbery, Malore, Jennifer Yahner, Crystal Tsao, and Joshua Fording. 2026. Urban Institute.

“Outcomes of the VictimConnect Resource Center.” Yahner, Jennifer, Malore Dusenbery, Sam Bachman, and Joshua Fording. 2026. Urban Institute.

An Assessment of Measure Z in Oakland: The Implementation of the Oakland Police Department’s Geographic and Community Policing Strategies and Special Victims Section. Oglesby-Neal, Ashlin, KiDeuk Kim, Sam Tecotzky, and Joshua Fording. 2025. Urban Institute.

Reducing Gun Violence in Brooklyn: Recommendations to Improve Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention Initiatives in the East Flatbush Neighborhood and Surrounding Areas. Robin, Lily, Joshua Fording, Travis Reginal, Paige S. Thompson, Andreea Matei, Jerome Louison, and Ramik Jamar Williams. 2025. Urban Institute.

“Four Key Considerations for Preventing Labor Trafficking.” 2025. Urban Institute.

Opportunity & Impact: Investing in City and Community Partnerships Toward Safety. Ahmed, Maryam, Ian Grice, Kirby Gaherty, Tony McCright, Storm Ervin, and Joshua Fording. 2024. National League of Cities.

Twenty Years Later: National Study of Victim Compensation Program Trends, Challenges, and Successes. Hussemann, Jeanette, Malore Dusenbery, Jennifer Yahner, Robbie Dembo, Elena Navarro, Genevieve Citrin Ray, and Joshua Fording. 2024. NORC at the University of Chicago and Urban Institute.

“An Evaluation of Crime Victim Compensation in Arizona.” Yahner, Jennifer, Joshua Fording, and Malore Dusenbery. 2024. Urban Institute.

“An Evaluation of Crime Victim Compensation in Delaware.” Dusenbery, Malore, Joshua Fording, and Jennifer Yahner. 2024. Urban Institute.

“An Evaluation of Crime Victim Compensation in New York.” Dusenbery, Malore, Joshua Fording, and Jennifer Yahner. 2024. Urban Institute.

“An Evaluation of Crime Victim Compensation in West Virginia.” Dusenbery, Malore, Joshua Fording, and Jennifer Yahner. 2024. Urban Institute.

Research to Inform the American Latino History and Culture Program. Treskon, Mark, Jennifer Yahner, Paola Echave, Joshua Fording, Sofia Hinojosa, Karolina Ramos, and Fanny Terrones. 2023. Urban Institute. (Also published in Spanish as Investigación para informar el programa de Historia y Cultura Latina Estadounidense.)

“A Snapshot of the Communities that Hispanic-Serving Institutions Serve.” Echave, Paola, and Joshua Fording. 2023. Urban Institute. (Also published in Spanish as “Panorama de las comunidades a las que prestan servicios las instituciones al servicio de los hispanos.”)