Raelynn Walker joined MFJ in the fall of 2016, after receiving her Masters of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. She began at MFJ as a Research Associate and has since become a Research Fellow. Her main responsibilities are assembling, cleaning, and coding state court data. As a Research Fellow, she is also responsible for internal quality control projects, such as management of the storage and standardization of criminal statutes between states. She also supervises the Research Team internship program and co-supervises Research Associate trainings.

In addition to her Masters, Raelynn has a Bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Psychology with a dual minor in Sociology/Anthropology and French. She has interned at various positions within the criminal justice system, including the Erie County Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Unit and Buffalo City Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Court, as well as conducting research in the Erie County Holding Center. Her research interests include fiscal and social impacts of the criminal justice system, and the complex interactions between those involved in or affected by interpersonal violence and the justice system.