About me

David Mitre Becerril is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy. He earned his doctoral degree in Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Mexico City, he worked at the Mexican census bureau’s public safety and justice unit and a government research agency before graduate school.

His research interests are understanding how place-based interventions, economic incentives, and the built environment affect public safety. David's research attempts to understand the conditions under which private and public community investments offer promising solutions to deter crime and examine the mechanisms driving such changes. He has written on topics including street lighting, localized urban development, overdose prevention sites, and the minimum wage, among others. His work has appeared in Criminology & Public Policy, JAMA Network Open, and the Journal of Urban Economics, among others. He has been recognized by the American Society of Criminology (Gene Carte Award), and his work has been highlighted in news outlets. He has also received the APPAM Equity & Inclusion Student Fellowship.

Last names’ Spanish pronunciation guide: Mitre Becerril (Me·tre Beh·se·reel).