The activity aims to introduce students to the reading and understanding of recent scientific studies that examine the effectiveness of laws and other crime prevention measures. Students will therefore learn how an analytical approach can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of legislative and judicial provisions and their social impact. The aim is to familiarize students with the literature and to understand the importance of a scientific approach for understanding particularly pressing issues, such as prison conditions, racial and gender discrimination in the application of laws and the prevention of corruption. No prior mathematical or statistical skills are required.