Our new report reveals that, with few exceptions, the mechanisms for criminal justice data collection and release in New York State are broken. This report covers the ways New York State’s criminal justice data infrastructure fails to meet basic levels of transparency that are requisite for evidence-based decision making and general accountability.
Without access to information about the ways cases are processed through the system, practitioners, advocates, and researchers in New York State are left unequipped to make decisions necessary for their work. Moreover, the public is in the dark about basic information pertaining to their local justice system. With heated criminal justice reform debates underway, there is a clear need for data that can speak to system performance.
Key findings from the report show efforts to put data to use across the state are frequently hampered by:
Antiquated systems
Inconsistent practices
Complicated and expensive request processes
A degree of partiality that allows data access to some and not others
Contributors: Sema Taheri, Jennie Brooks, Mason DeLang, Shelby Davis, Hillary Livingston, Nathan LeMahieu, & Trevariana Mason
Director of Research & Data Stewardship
Shelby joined Measures for Justice in 2017 as a member of the Data Outreach team. During that time, she visited criminal justice agencies throughout the country to collect data at the county and state levels. In her current role as Director of Research & Data Stewardship, she assists with the development of the organization’s overall system for measuring local criminal justice performance and lends direction to MFJ’s contextual research projects.
Shelby earned an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where as a research assistant she examined a number of topics, including youth-involved gun violence and institutional responses to police use of force. Her work at MFJ is inspired by a commitment to bridge the gap between research and practice, and in particular, to help create systems that are just and equitable for all people.
Shelby lives in a small town outside of St. Louis, Missouri. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in her garden and exploring the outdoors with her family.
Director of Data Science & Assessment
Mason joined Measures for Justice in 2018. As a Director of Data Science & Assessment, he assists with the development of MFJ’s methodologies and conducts statistical analyses to inform projects and research.
Mason earned his PhD in political science from the University of Rochester and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His research interests focus on the mechanisms underlying the spread of information online. In his free time, he enjoys shooting pool and working on new recipes in the kitchen.
VP of Research
Sema Taheri joined MFJ in 2016. As the Director of the Research and Strategic Initiatives (RSI) Team, Sema collaborates with the Engagement and Data Processing teams to develop MFJ’s data collection and data management methodology. She directs the operations of the RSI Team, and maintains and manages the established relationships with outside partners. She also works closely with MFJ’s leadership to advance the organization’s research agenda.
Prior to joining MFJ, Sema taught and conducted research on how criminal justice organizations interact with the populations they are meant to serve. She has worked directly with various criminal justice agencies, including front and back-end system actors, on projects including evaluations of treatment programming,and analyses of trends in population. At MFJ, she has also worked closely with practitioners across the system on projects related to data standards, performance measure development, and evaluation. Her research interests include institutional and community corrections, offender reentry, CJ organizations, program evaluation, and closing the gap between research and practice.
Sema holds a Ph.D. in Criminology & Justice Policy from Northeastern University and a M.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago. She currently lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
