Udi Ofer
@uofer.bsky.social
Teach constitutional rights and policy advocacy at Princeton University. Founding Director, Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic. Former ACLU attorney for 20 years. Chair, International Advisory Council, Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
This week marked 30 years since Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by right wing zealot at a rally where Rabin delivered a speech about importance of peace between Israelis & Palestinians. In his pocket were lyrics to Shir LaShalom, Song for Peace. This image of the bloodstained lyrics breaks my heart:
November 6, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This week marked 30 years since Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by right wing zealot at a rally where Rabin delivered a speech about importance of peace between Israelis & Palestinians. In his pocket were lyrics to Shir LaShalom, Song for Peace. This image of the bloodstained lyrics breaks my heart:
And what kind of crime are Americans most frequently afraid of? Not the type you hear about in the news. Americans worry most about being the victim of identity theft (69%) and being tricked into providing financial information to scammers (53%). 2/2
October 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
And what kind of crime are Americans most frequently afraid of? Not the type you hear about in the news. Americans worry most about being the victim of identity theft (69%) and being tricked into providing financial information to scammers (53%). 2/2
Studies evaluating tens of millions of miles driven by Waymo found that compared with human-driven vehicles, Waymo cars are involved in 96% fewer vehicle-to-vehicle crashes at intersections; 90% fewer bodily-injury claims; and 92% fewer pedestrian injuries www.derekthompson.org/p/self-drivi...
October 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Studies evaluating tens of millions of miles driven by Waymo found that compared with human-driven vehicles, Waymo cars are involved in 96% fewer vehicle-to-vehicle crashes at intersections; 90% fewer bodily-injury claims; and 92% fewer pedestrian injuries www.derekthompson.org/p/self-drivi...
This is bonkers even by this Administration's standards. This is the front page of HUD's website right now. As a reminder, the 1939 Hatch Act restricts political activities by government agencies and employees. www.hud.gov#close
October 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
This is bonkers even by this Administration's standards. This is the front page of HUD's website right now. As a reminder, the 1939 Hatch Act restricts political activities by government agencies and employees. www.hud.gov#close
Looking forward to my talk tomorrow making the case that even in the age of Trump 2.0 and heightened polarization, criminal justice reform can win and is in fact winning in many states. If you're in the Princeton area, would love to see you
September 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Looking forward to my talk tomorrow making the case that even in the age of Trump 2.0 and heightened polarization, criminal justice reform can win and is in fact winning in many states. If you're in the Princeton area, would love to see you
Most presidents start their terms with positive net approval. Both Mr Trump’s terms began with mixed reviews that then fell to negative score. His second may be following similar trajectory. It took less than two months for his approval rating to fall below zero www.economist.com/interactive/...
September 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Most presidents start their terms with positive net approval. Both Mr Trump’s terms began with mixed reviews that then fell to negative score. His second may be following similar trajectory. It took less than two months for his approval rating to fall below zero www.economist.com/interactive/...
This right here tells you everything you need to know about politics & crime. 75% of Americans say crime is not a problem or a minor problem in their community. Almost the opposite, 66%, say it's a major problem in the US. In other words, vast majority feel safe but think other people are not safe
September 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This right here tells you everything you need to know about politics & crime. 75% of Americans say crime is not a problem or a minor problem in their community. Almost the opposite, 66%, say it's a major problem in the US. In other words, vast majority feel safe but think other people are not safe
The NYPD’s headcount has risen and fallen over the past three decades, but its relationship to crime has never been linear. In 1990, there were 32,451 sworn officers and 527,257 index felonies. In 2024, the city recorded 123,890 index felonies while operating with 33,580 sworn officers.
August 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The NYPD’s headcount has risen and fallen over the past three decades, but its relationship to crime has never been linear. In 1990, there were 32,451 sworn officers and 527,257 index felonies. In 2024, the city recorded 123,890 index felonies while operating with 33,580 sworn officers.
Just Released: new data on the death penalty in the US. 33% more people executed in 2023 than year before. Second consecutive year of increase. Total of 24 is highest since 2018 but still significantly lower than many previous decades. For example, 199 executions in 1935 bjs.ojp.gov/document/cp2...
July 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Just Released: new data on the death penalty in the US. 33% more people executed in 2023 than year before. Second consecutive year of increase. Total of 24 is highest since 2018 but still significantly lower than many previous decades. For example, 199 executions in 1935 bjs.ojp.gov/document/cp2...
“For all the work and all the tough times, I think it’s an experience you’re really not going to get elsewhere.” Great new piece on my Policy Advocacy Clinic. I expect a lot from my students, but the rewards are worth it, including advocacy before the UN in Geneva paw.princeton.edu/article/spia...
June 24, 2025 at 11:19 AM
“For all the work and all the tough times, I think it’s an experience you’re really not going to get elsewhere.” Great new piece on my Policy Advocacy Clinic. I expect a lot from my students, but the rewards are worth it, including advocacy before the UN in Geneva paw.princeton.edu/article/spia...
Seeing variations of signs like these in Israel.
June 12, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Seeing variations of signs like these in Israel.
Arrived in Tel Aviv today and saw a rocket intercepted above me during my first few hours here
June 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Arrived in Tel Aviv today and saw a rocket intercepted above me during my first few hours here
Folks! At noon ET today we will be launching new bipartisan principles on criminal justice policy. This has been a labor of love, as we brought together 7 leading organizations on the left and 7 on right to agree on joint principles. 550+ people have RSVPed. Join us! events.zoom.us/ev/Al0ecBnmm...
June 3, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Folks! At noon ET today we will be launching new bipartisan principles on criminal justice policy. This has been a labor of love, as we brought together 7 leading organizations on the left and 7 on right to agree on joint principles. 550+ people have RSVPed. Join us! events.zoom.us/ev/Al0ecBnmm...
Rodents, bugs, and cell temperatures over 90 degrees in the summer. Welcome to New Jersey's Garden State Youth Correctional Facility www.nj.com/politics/202...
May 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Rodents, bugs, and cell temperatures over 90 degrees in the summer. Welcome to New Jersey's Garden State Youth Correctional Facility www.nj.com/politics/202...
On my way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with my Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic students, where they will be presenting to Republican lawmakers on the history of Republican support for criminal justice reform in the South. The students have analyzed tens of thousands of bills to draw a clear picture.
April 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
On my way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with my Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic students, where they will be presenting to Republican lawmakers on the history of Republican support for criminal justice reform in the South. The students have analyzed tens of thousands of bills to draw a clear picture.
Incredible to have Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on campus. Proud to see him recognize my clinic students: "Today, students at Princeton don’t just learn about human rights. You are active participants in shaping our global human rights frameworks" www.ohchr.org/en/statement...
April 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Incredible to have Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on campus. Proud to see him recognize my clinic students: "Today, students at Princeton don’t just learn about human rights. You are active participants in shaping our global human rights frameworks" www.ohchr.org/en/statement...
Really looking forward to hosting this event tonight in DC on the bipartisan movement for criminal justice reform. We have an all-star lineup, including VA Secretary Doug Collins and an incredible list of advocates from the left and right. The response has been overwhelming and the event is sold out
April 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Really looking forward to hosting this event tonight in DC on the bipartisan movement for criminal justice reform. We have an all-star lineup, including VA Secretary Doug Collins and an incredible list of advocates from the left and right. The response has been overwhelming and the event is sold out
Next week I will be moderating a discussion with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, about the state of human rights today. Join us! spia.princeton.edu/events/deans...
March 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Next week I will be moderating a discussion with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, about the state of human rights today. Join us! spia.princeton.edu/events/deans...
Really looking forward to moderating this event tomorrow with two incredible women, Yael Braudo-Bahat & Reem Al-Hajajreh, who help lead two Israeli & Palestinian organizations, Women Wage Peace & Women of the Sun, working together to end war & build peace. Join us: spia.princeton.edu/events/deans...
February 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Really looking forward to moderating this event tomorrow with two incredible women, Yael Braudo-Bahat & Reem Al-Hajajreh, who help lead two Israeli & Palestinian organizations, Women Wage Peace & Women of the Sun, working together to end war & build peace. Join us: spia.princeton.edu/events/deans...
Only 28% of Americans support ending birthright citizenship, so Trump is in the minority of public opinion on this issue. 51% oppose it and 20% have no opinion, so lots of room here for educating the public on the issue. apnews.com/article/trum...
January 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Only 28% of Americans support ending birthright citizenship, so Trump is in the minority of public opinion on this issue. 51% oppose it and 20% have no opinion, so lots of room here for educating the public on the issue. apnews.com/article/trum...
The large majority of Americans do not support deporting immigrants who came to the US illegally as children, using $$ allocated to the military to deport people, or separating families. A large majority does support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally www.ipsos.com/sites/defaul...
January 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The large majority of Americans do not support deporting immigrants who came to the US illegally as children, using $$ allocated to the military to deport people, or separating families. A large majority does support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally www.ipsos.com/sites/defaul...
Biden just commuted the sentences of ~2,500 people incarcerated under crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity. My Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic issued a report on this last month, finding that Black made up 78.9% of people sentenced under this unjust disparity spia.princeton.edu/sites/defaul...
January 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Biden just commuted the sentences of ~2,500 people incarcerated under crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity. My Princeton Policy Advocacy Clinic issued a report on this last month, finding that Black made up 78.9% of people sentenced under this unjust disparity spia.princeton.edu/sites/defaul...
Important reminder from Secretary of State Blinken in his exit interview with NYT on the possibilities that existed pre-October 7th, when the US was pursuing normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel that was beginning to include a pathway to a Palestinian state: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/m...
January 5, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Important reminder from Secretary of State Blinken in his exit interview with NYT on the possibilities that existed pre-October 7th, when the US was pursuing normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel that was beginning to include a pathway to a Palestinian state: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/m...
For folks in the Princeton area, please come by tonight to an exciting panel on the bipartisan movement for criminal justice reform. Hear from some of its leaders as they share views on the movement's future. We organized this panel before the election, and now it's more important than ever. 1/3
November 19, 2024 at 4:22 PM
For folks in the Princeton area, please come by tonight to an exciting panel on the bipartisan movement for criminal justice reform. Hear from some of its leaders as they share views on the movement's future. We organized this panel before the election, and now it's more important than ever. 1/3