Our Team

Christine Cole has more than 30 years’ experience in the safety and justice sector — in policing, institutional and community-based corrections, victim advocacy, community organizing, and prosecution in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. She has extensive experience as a collaborator and facilitator with practitioners, community members, and academics, working as a change agent across a variety of topics and levels of government. Christine has contributed to research and writing about police organization, leadership, oversight and the organization of first responders to mass casualty and active shooter events. Her current focus is on safety and justice reform that embraces data to understand the current situation, design the right solution, and communicate results. Christine holds a MPA from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, MA in community psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and BA from Boston College.

Barbara Pierce has more than 20 years’ experience in criminal justice and consulting at the county, state, and federal levels. Barbara leads a multi-site effort to assist states with the implementation of comprehensive criminal justice policy reforms through Justice Reinvestment, coordinates projects to improve criminal justice responses to those with mental health issues, and directs CJI’s Restrictive Housing projects to safely reduce the use of segregation in prisons and jails. Barbara’s innovative approach to segregation reform has been featured in corrections publications and presentations to national audiences. Barbara is committed to improving the trajectory of criminal justice policy and practice through strong and diverse partnerships and the real-world application of research to achieve better public and institutional safety outcomes. Barbara received her Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern Maine and has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Providence College.

Len Engel has been working on criminal and juvenile justice policy issues for more than 25 years and today leads CJI’s work in both areas. Since joining CJI in 2005, Len’s focus has been on policy analysis and legislative and regulatory reform. He has directed criminal justice reform projects in South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Oregon, South Dakota, Mississippi, Utah, Maryland, and Alaska as part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative of the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Pew Charitable Trusts. With leaders at Pew, Len helped create a Justice Reinvestment approach that assists states in developing data-driven, evidence-based strategies that improve safety, reduce the unnecessary use of incarceration, and redirect resources to recidivism reduction policies and practices. Before joining CJI, Len worked in the Massachusetts State Senate, as an ombudsman under contract with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, and as a practicing lawyer.

Colby Dawley has focused primarily on CJI’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative project, assisting states reform their criminal justice system to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Colby leads a team that reviews a state’s criminal justice system, makes policy recommendations, and helps with drafting, passage, and implementation of reforms. Before joining CJI in 2010, Colby worked for several criminal defense attorneys, gaining a thorough understanding of the justice system and developing her passion for legal research on federal and state criminal laws. Colby is committed to assisting states in the development and implementation of criminal justice reforms that align with the research on what works to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and improve outcomes for offenders. Colby holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Science in Crime and Justice Studies from Suffolk University.

Margot Isman has varied experience in systems improvement consulting working with organizations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their monitoring and evaluation systems. Margot supports CJI’s work on the Justice Reinvestment Initiative project as well as the Mental Health Task Force in South Dakota. Previously, Margot served as the Managing Director of Vera Solutions, providing technical assistance to non-profits on the implementation of data collection and analysis systems, and as a Legislative Aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Margot is committed to improving the effectiveness of criminal justice systems through evidence-based policies. Margot holds a BA in History from Stanford University and a MA in International Affairs from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Tessa Upin began her career in juvenile justice reform at the county level and has expanded her work to state-level policy reform, primarily assisting state and local juvenile justice agencies to design and implement data and research-driven policies. Tessa leads implementation of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation as part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative. She previously worked for the state of New Jersey at the Juvenile Justice Commission and was awarded the New Jersey Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Innovation for her work on statewide implementation of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). Tessa is driven by the positive impact juvenile justice system reform has on youth, families, communities and states across the country. Tessa graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Science in Criminology.

Michael Kane has been working in the criminal justice field for more than 10 years, with a focus on applied research. Mike leads a variety of efforts for CJI, including acting as site lead and managing CJI’s Justice Reinvestment at Local Level efforts, and overseeing the pilot testing of a domestic violence risk assessment tool for a state probation agency. Mike has experience working with a wide variety of criminal justice stakeholders, with a particular focus on corrections and community corrections, in research, technical assistance, and consulting capacities. Mike is committed to improving criminal justice systems through structured assessment, application of research, collection of data, and analysis. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Northeastern University and a Master of Arts in Social Science from the University of Chicago.

Martha Gilford has over 20 years of experience in the public sector with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, first as a social worker in child protection and later in the Finance and Business Administration arena.  For the last 7 years she has focused her work in the fiscal departments of several mission driven nonprofit agencies and most recently managed the state and federal contracts for a Domestic Violence agency. She is committed to using her knowledge of federal contracts and budgeting to support the work of the Institute.  Martha has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Services and Minors in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of New Hampshire.

Valerie Meade has worked in criminal justice for over 20 years, with expertise in the areas of cognitive behavioral interventions, case management, model fidelity, and continuous quality improvement, and extensive experience with adult and juvenile populations on community supervision, in correctional facilities, and in substance abuse treatment. In her current role, Valerie assists states throughout the country with implementation and sustainability of Justice Reinvestment policies. Valerie was named Community Corrections Employee of the Year for the State of Kansas in 2012 for implementing sustainable evidence-based practices and Supervisor of the Year in 2017 for supporting staff through culture change to foster evidence-based practices. Valerie is committed to improving the quality of criminal justice programs and interventions through collaboration and implementation of sustainable research-based strategies that lead to improved public safety. Valerie graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice.

Katie Zafft has over 10 years of experience working in criminal justice policy evaluation and implementation. Katie’s professional research experience includes both quantitative and qualitative data analysis at the local, state, and national level to evaluate a wide range of criminal justice topics, including the intersection of law enforcement and drug policy, community supervision strategies, drug court implementation, sentencing guidelines, and felony theft statutes. Her work for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ public safety performance project involved evaluating state criminal justice policy reforms to advance research-based strategies in sentencing and corrections. Katie is passionate about the development and use of criminal justice data systems to inform implementation of criminal justice policies and practices. She holds a BA in Psychology from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota, an MA in Criminology from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland.

Jessica Hickman has focused her career on victim services within the criminal justice system, specifically working with offenders, victims, and children who have been involved with, experienced, or witnessed domestic violence. Jessica splits her time at CJI between the Phase II Justice Reinvestment Initiative and supporting Pretrial Technical Assistance in various states. Over the years in direct service, Jessica has seen the impact trauma and interactions with the criminal justice system can have on both victims and offenders. She is passionate about improving the justice system for all parties involved and is committed to effective, evidence-based policy reform. Jessica holds a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University.

Jen Christie has more than 15 years of experience working in criminal and juvenile justice, with a focus on education, training, and research. Jen leads training and implementation efforts for legislative reform initiatives for both the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative. In her previous work, Jen has taught and trained students, researchers, and criminal justice staff on policing, corrections, evidence-based practices, trafficking, and theoretical criminology and sociology. Jen is focused on improving the criminal and juvenile justice systems through education, research, and utilization of current knowledge. She holds a BA in Sociology from Kansas State University, a BA Honours in Criminology and MCrim from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and completed the course work and qualifying exams for a Ph.D at Northeastern University.

Jasmine Jackson joined the Crime and Justice Institute in February 2017. Jasmine supports CJI’s work advancing juvenile justice reform through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. She has been working in the field of criminal justice as a juvenile justice practitioner for four years. Jasmine has experience working in the areas of court investigation, probation and re-entry at the state level. She enjoys providing volunteer services to delinquent and at-risk youth through mentorship, facilitating pro-social workshops and developing community service events. Jasmine has a zeal for juvenile justice reform and believes recidivism can be reduced by the implementation of evidence-based practices. Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Benedict College and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Sarah Lawrence has more than 15 years of experience in research and policy analysis in the field of criminal justice. Sarah leads an assessment of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ Collaborative Reform Initiative looking at program implementation at seven police departments across the country. Sarah has experience as a research partner with a variety of criminal justice agencies including police departments, sheriffs’ departments, and state departments of corrections. Sarah is interested in improving justice systems by bridging the worlds of practice and research. Sarah graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Abigail Strait joined CJI in August of 2015 while finishing her graduate degree and came on full time in June 2016 after graduation. Abby has worked on many projects during her time with CJI and currently manages a team implementing criminal justice policy changes made through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. Abby is driven by a desire to work with jurisdictions to increase fairness, justice, and community safety. Abby holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hamline University in Minnesota and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Brandeis University in Massachusetts; during her graduate program she concentrated on criminal justice policy analysis.

Vienna Thompkins joined CJI in May 2018. At CJI, Vienna supports implementation efforts for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative, as well as contributing to pretrial justice work. Prior to joining CJI, Vienna conducted research and data analysis for a study pertaining to the use of fines and fees across nine counties and three states, in addition to supporting an economic impact of mass incarceration study and reporting on national crime trends. Vienna is committed to developing creative, data-driven solutions to issues in the criminal justice system, and to improving the management and accessibility of data for the benefit of internal and external stakeholders. Vienna graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Economics and a Master of Public Administration, with a Certificate in Data Analytics.

Julie Finn has been with CJI for more than 10 years and works on projects that support efforts to improve juvenile and criminal justice programs, policies, and services. Julie helps agencies and stakeholders use data to inform decision making, conducts action research, and provides information and project management. For seven years Julie provided technical assistance to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services on implementation of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). During her work with DYS, she was awarded the Massachusetts JDAI “Unsung Hero” award for her efforts to increase the capacity of JDAI partners to make data-driven decisions for youth in the juvenile justice system. Julie is committed to working with project partners to improve systems and processes and to understand the challenges of implementing research-based practices in the field. Julie graduated from Colby College with a Bachelor of Arts in Government.

Erin Allain joined CJI in March 2018 and brings years of experience in research and teaching on the criminal justice system. At CJI, Erin works on the NIC Transition from Jail to Community Initiative and the training team. Erin previously worked with victim advocacy programs in addition to being a Program Monitor at CRJ’s McGrath House in Boston. More recently, she assisted with research projects at UMass Boston, including a Shannon-grant funded project focused on collaborating with community partners and law enforcement to prevent youth and gang violence. Erin is currently a doctoral candidate in the Sociology Department at UMass Boston. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Crime and Justice Studies from UMass Dartmouth and a Master of Science in Crime and Justice Studies from Suffolk University.

Noah Atchison joined CJI in July 2019. He supports CJI’s pretrial work where he analyzes pretrial outcomes and performs risk assessment validation. He also assists states implementing reforms through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative with performance measure development more broadly. Before joining CJI, Noah worked at the Brennan Center for Justice on a long-term study of the fiscal impact of criminal fines and fees. As part of this role he managed data collection and analysis, as well as organizing court watching, survey development, and stakeholder outreach. He is committed to developing comprehensive and ethical means of tracking outcomes in the justice system, and to improving data transparency as part of broader criminal justice reform efforts. Noah holds a BA in Economics from Reed College.

Gracie Burger joined CJI in July 2017. She splits her time at CJI between the national Clean Slate Initiative, which supports state legislative campaigns aimed at automating criminal record clearance, and the development of evidence-based strategies that inform criminal justice policy regarding the use of jails. Her earlier work at CJI included the implementation of an effort to improve criminal justice responses to individuals with mental illness in South Dakota, and the development of a constitutional policing resource based on an analysis of federal consent decrees. Prior to joining CJI, Gracie did legislative education and research in the juvenile justice system and case management for previously incarcerated individuals. Her direct service experience has motivated her to understand the nuanced challenges associated with criminal and juvenile justice policy at all levels of government. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Development Studies from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.

Reid joined CJI in 2019 after several years as a practicing attorney working in indigent defense. In his previous position, as supervising attorney at North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Reid represented clients at virtually every stage of the criminal justice system including trial level, appellate, post-conviction, and parole revocation. His work ranged from hearings in small courthouses across the state to oral arguments in front of the North Carolina Supreme Court. At CJI, Reid applies his practical knowledge to promoting systemic change of criminal justices systems through the use of evidence-based policies.

He has a JD from Penn Law and a BA in Political Science and History from Duke University.

Justine Fowler joined the Crime and Justice Institute in January 2019. Justine supports CJI’s work advancing juvenile justice reform through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. Prior to joining the staff of CJI, Justine worked for over seven years as the lead research analyst for Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, a government entity responsible for the oversight of juvenile justice in the state. In that capacity, Justine was responsible for the development of reports and presentations for state and local stakeholders related to trend analyses, gap analyses, system resource utilization, the evaluation of implemented evidence-based practices, and outcome measures. Justine also completed the state’s recidivism work, a process she developed during her time as a Stoneleigh Foundation Fellow. Justine holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Mansfield University and a Master of Art in Criminal Justice from Penn State University.

Katie Hoglund joined the team at CJI in July 2019 with over 8 years of experience in the criminal justice field. At CJI, Katie focuses on adult justice policy analysis and reform at both the state and federal levels. In her last position, Katie served as Chief of Compliance and Integrity for the Maryland Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, where she ensured compliance with safety standards for Baltimore’s six pretrial facilities, through the development of policies and procedures, data monitoring, and operational integrity. Prior to that, Katie was a Senior Analyst at Abt Associates, focusing on project work related to human trafficking, the DEA’s response to high intensity drug trafficking, and the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Katie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in Criminology, and from the University of Maryland with dual bachelor’s degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Leila Khelfaoui has dedicated many years of employment to working with at-risk youth and children with behavioral challenges. Leila works to support the implementation of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation as part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative. Leila’s educational background encompasses a variety of criminal and juvenile justice interests such as justice-involved youth, community-based interventions and administrative segregation. Leila is motivated by juvenile justice reform that focuses on evidence-based practices and producing positive outcomes for the youth and families. Leila holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Justice, Law and Criminology from American University.

Molly Robustelli joined CJI in February 2017 as a Research Assistant, having previously spent a period of time as a part-time intern. Molly assists in the production of the Coming Home Directory, a reentry resource guide for the Boston-area, in addition to supporting the policy development phase of CJI’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative projects. Molly is committed to reforming the justice system through the use of data-driven approaches that reduce the reliance on incarceration, while also creating safer and stronger communities. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in Government and Spanish.

Maja Vlajnic joined CJI’s data team in 2019 and works primarily with adult corrections and community supervision. She brings to the role an extensive background in scholarly research on criminal justice, as well as interdisciplinary experience in analytical work. In addition to her academic experience, she has worked on projects exploring the impact of forensic evidence on sexual assault case progression, investigating commodity misinvoicing in international trade data, and collecting and analyzing qualitative data on hate crimes. Maja is currently a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in English and a BA and MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Quentin joined CJI in September of 2017. Before that he spent five years at the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, where he worked as an ADA in the Appeals, Superior, and District Court Divisions. He has litigated many jury trials in the District and Superior Courts, and has argued dozens of criminal cases before the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Drawing on his extensive experience as a practitioner, he is committed to improving the effectiveness, fairness, and safety of criminal justice systems through the use of evidence-based policies. He has a JD from Northeastern University School of Law, and a BFA from New York University.

Carrie Chapman has over a decade of public management and research design experience. For the last four years, Carrie was an analyst with the Division of Probation Services in Colorado, where she was responsible for creating statewide projects and providing extensive data analysis and technical support to local stakeholders. Her public management research has been published in such peer-reviewed journals as Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and Public Administration, and she has taught Evidence-Based Decision Making for the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Colorado Denver. At CJI, Carrie joins the Justice Reinvestment Initiative team to support their data analysis and policy initiatives. She is driven by a commitment to helping local communities through the adoption of evidence-informed, data-driven decision making techniques. Carrie received her BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado Denver.

Erica’s main focus at CJI is content development and strategic communications. Erica worked in a variety of communications roles over the last 15 years, including at the national nonprofits City Year, Opportunity Nation, and Education Pioneers; additionally, she started her career serving two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Twin Cities RISE in Minnesota. She remains committed to developing and elevating accessible and inclusive stories. Erica holds a BA in Strategic Communications from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Communications/Nonprofits from Marquette University through the Trinity Fellows Program, a 21-month study/work program dedicated to developing leaders with a commitment to social and economic justice.

Christian joined The Crime and Justice Institute in 2016 after spending 10 years working in newsrooms in Greater Boston, most recently at The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, where he covered the criminal justice system, government and led the paper’s coverage of the opioid epidemic. Christian oversees all aspects of the Institute’s external communications and media relations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Boston University.

Gina Abbondandolo joined CJI in September 2015 as an Administrative Assistant and has since become the Administrative Coordinator. She applies her technical and organizational skills to attend to CJI’s administrative infrastructure. Gina also provides support in bookkeeping, financial analysis and project assistance. She has previously worked in administrative settings within financial institutions before making the transition into the criminal justice field, combining her interest for criminal and social justice with her administrative experience. Gina holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Criminal Justice Administration.

Joanna Abaroa-Ellison joined CJI in 2019. She began her career working in law enforcement and corrections in programmatic as well as data and research capacities. Joanna splits her time at CJI between policing and policy projects, working to improve public safety and the delivery of justice throughout the United States. Joanna is committed to using data-driven policies and practices to reduce disparities and the negative impact of the criminal justice system in the lives of those who come into contact with it. Joanna holds a BA in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MSW in Macro Social Work from Boston College.

Amanda Coscia joined CJI in June of 2019 as a Policy Analyst. Amanda began her career in Washington, D.C. working with criminal justice practitioners and policy makers at the county, state and federal levels. Amanda works to support the policy development phase of CJI’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative, helping states utilize data-drive strategies to enhance public safety. Amanda is passionate about strengthening communities and improving the criminal justice system through the use of evidence-based policy reform. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Emerson College in Communications.

Celeste began her career in criminal justice reform working in the non-profit sector and volunteering for the Department of Corrections in the state of Connecticut where she assisted with in-prison rehabilitation programs for incarcerated women. At CJI, Celeste is a member of the policy team, which helps state governments examine their criminal justice systems and develop evidence-based, data-driven policies. Celeste is committed to improving inefficient institutions, advancing rehabilitation initiatives for justice-involved individuals, and promoting more effective alternatives to incarceration. Celeste graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights Studies with minors in Legal Studies and French Language.

Ashley Melanchook has been working in state and federal public policy for five years. At CJI, Ashley provides support to the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, South Dakota’s Task Force on Community Justice and Mental Illness Early Intervention, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative. Ashley is committed to reforming the juvenile justice system and reducing recidivism in communities and states across the country. Ashley graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Science in Government, a Master of Public Administration, and a Master of Science in Political Science.

Adrian Rocha joined CJI in 2019. His main focus is conducting research and evaluating legislation, policies, and practices related to people involved in (and transitioning out of) the criminal and juvenile justice systems, as well as assisting in the development and delivery of presentations regarding evidence-based corrections practices. Prior to joining CJI, Adrian worked with families, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and other community members and stakeholders in Mississippi and Louisiana on issues related to educational equity, youth incarceration, and access to behavioral health services. He is committed to informing and shaping systems that are responsive to a community’s need and prioritize public safety. Adrian holds a BA in political science from Texas Lutheran University.

Frank Stiefel has worked at the community, city, and state level to reform the criminal justice system and improve services for formerly incarcerated individuals in Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Frank supports the implementation of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation as part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Smart on Juvenile Justice Initiative.  Frank is driven by the impact that criminal justice reform can have in transforming communities for the better.  Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts in African/African-American Studies and Political Science from Elon University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University.

Melinda joined CJI in October 2018 after a year as a part-time intern. Melinda maintains the Coming Home Directory, CJI’s Boston area reentry resource guide, and provides support to the Shannon Community Safety Initiative in Fall River. Melinda is committed to improving the lives and promoting the rights of people involved in the justice system while emphasizing the importance of data driven policies. Melinda graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Environmental Studies and a double minor in Sociology and Biology.

Andy Tisdel joined CJI in April 2020. He primarily supports CJI’s pretrial justice work, providing technical assistance and contributing to the assessment of pretrial systems in various states. Andy is committed to analyzing and promulgating effective, evidence-based policies that help states reform their justice systems and improve their outcomes. He holds a BA in English from the College of Wooster, as well as a Master of Public Policy and a Social Impact MBA from Brandeis University, where he focused on criminal justice policy analysis.