Spence Purnell is director of technology policy at the Reason Foundation.
Prior to joining Reason, Spence worked as director of business development at Florida startup Dealers United and as an analyst for the state of Florida's Executive Office of the Governor (Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship).
Spence graduated from Stetson University with a bachelors degree in political science and is working on an MPA at Florida State, where his research has focused on database infrastructure and analytics, economic development, and policy evaluation methods.
Purnell is based in Florida.
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Kentucky Ballot Initiative Analysis: Amendment 1 (2020)
Kentucky's Amendment 1 would implement a set of victim’s rights policies adopted in other states titled “Marsy’s Law.”
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Watch Experts Evaluate the Various Approaches to Marijuana Taxation
A panel discussion on what states have done right and wrong as they've legalized and taxed marijuana.
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California Ballot Initiative Analysis: Proposition 25 (2020)
California's Proposition 25 would allow voters to approve or overturn the state's decision to replace cash bail with a risk assessment system.
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Michigan Ballot Initiative Analysis: Proposal 2 (2020)
Michigan's Proposal 2 would require police to obtain a warrant to search electronic communications data.
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Michigan Ballot Initiative Analysis: Proposal 1 (2020)
Michigan's Proposal 1 would revise the formula for how state and local park funds from trusts can be spent.
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States, and Taxpayers, Need Better Transportation Data
State transportation departments have largely failed to adopt modern data and technology capabilities—and our roads are worse for it.
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We Need More, and Better, Data on Policing and the Criminal Justice System
The lack of quality data on policing reflects the poor state of transparency in the criminal justice system and is holding back law enforcement reform efforts.
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Ending the War On Drugs Is Key To Long-Term Police Reform
It is well past time to end the drug war, to legalize most simple drug possession — especially marijuana — and end practices like qualified immunity.
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State Legislature Undermines Mississippi’s Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative
The legislature’s proposal would severely restrict the number of legal medical marijuana suppliers and manufacturers.