Fellow
Joe Popcun is a fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. He previously served as executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium and executive director of the New York State Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration.
Before his time at the Rockefeller Institute, Popcun served as the deputy commissioner for policy and planning at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. In this role, he oversaw the agency’s strategic and policy initiatives as well as administration and finance areas. Prior to being deputy commissioner, he served as assistant secretary for public safety and policy advisor for public safety in the Office of New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo where he provided policy expertise and operations assistance for the state’s criminal justice, law enforcement, and homeland security agencies. Before state service, Popcun was a research analyst and academic fellow with the federal government as well as a research assistant with a nationally-recognized security research institute.
Firearm Storage in New York: Options and Opportunities
December 21, 2021
A follow-up to the release of the New York State Firearm Storage Map, this analysis presents the results of the survey used to gather directory information for more than 180 temporary, voluntary firearm storage locations. Continue Reading...
November 19, 2021
This blog introduces the New York Firearm Storage Map—an interactive tool to provide New Yorkers with over 150 locations for temporary, voluntary firearm storage. Continue Reading...
Ep. 39. NYS Legislative Session Wrap: Firearm Legislation
June 17, 2021
Joe Popcun and Nick Simons discuss the major firearm bills that will be sent to the governor, the issues those bills address, and how research can best support policymakers as they seek to disrupt the cycle of firearm-involved violence. Continue Reading...
A New Data Source for Firearm Injury Hospitalizations
June 3, 2021
Using a new dataset from the RAND Corporation, Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium researchers analyzed firearm injury hospitalization rate among Consortium member states and nationally. Continue Reading...
What Does the Research Say About Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)?
April 28, 2021
Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) to reduce gun violence. What are these "red flag" laws and how effective are they? Continue Reading...
Gun Owners, Opinions, and Policy Opportunities Amid the Pandemic
January 27, 2021
This analysis examines gun owner demographics, political opinions, and attitudes toward measures aimed at preventing gun violence. Continue Reading...
Ep. 33. Policy and the Election
October 28, 2020
Rockefeller Institute researchers and fellows share remarks on the important policy issues facing the winner of the presidential election. Continue Reading...
September 24, 2020
This analysis presents some of the key themes from the "Public Sector Management Following COVID-19" webinar. Continue Reading...
Ep. 26. Gun Policy & Politics in a Pandemic
August 25, 2020
Robert J. Spitzer, a distinguished service professor at SUNY Cortland and member of the Rockefeller Institute of Government's Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, speaks with Consortium Executive Director Joe Popcun about recent developments in firearm policy and politics. Continue Reading...
Ep. 25. What It Takes to Research Gun Violence
July 23, 2020
Joseph Popcun, Rockefeller Institute director of policy and practice, and Nicholas Simons, project coordinator at the Institute, discuss the role of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium in finding and developing policy to reduce gun violence. Continue Reading...