Velázquez briefed journalists at the 2023 Crime Coverage Summit in January 2023: Reporter Tools: The Jail Data Initiative. 

Tracy Velázquez leads research activities for Pew’s mental health and justice partnerships and public safety performance projects. Her team produces and publishes analyses of criminal justice, courts and crisis systems. Before joining Pew, Velázquez served in research and policy positions for several national and state criminal justice reform and health policy organizations and as a consultant to local, state, and federal governments. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard University, a master’s in justice, law, and criminology from American University, and a master’s in public administration from Montana State University. She lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she spends her leisure time keeping bees and gardening.