We have a crack team of data engineers, criminologists, product designers, and community connectors working to help develop data tools that help the public and their public servants reshape how the criminal justice system works.
The Board is responsible for devising policies and procedures that support best practices for MFJ.
We bring together experts nationwide to advise us on our work.
Come join the effort to make the criminal justice system transparent, accountable, and accessible.
Measures for Justice (MFJ) is committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our workplace. We are committed to eradicating barriers to access and opportunity and strive to create a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. We know that only by bringing together our diverse perspectives can we begin to understand and innovatively tackle the complex issues we engage with. We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done to ensure we are embodying these principles in our workplace and our work, and we are deeply committed to this ongoing practice. Our work is the data; our heart is the people.
At Measures for Justice you’ll have a unique opportunity to use your skills to help real people work together to reshape the criminal justice system.
Software Engineer III
Aleksandr Voytovich joined Measure for Justice in the summer of 2021 as a software developer.
He earned his B.A. in Computer Science from Oswego State University, with a job ready to go right out of college. He started his career in 2019 in the government sector, specializing in computing and visualizing data, and moving between various types of work that included a wide array of technologies and systems.
With a passion for technology, criminal justice, and the desire to leave this world better than he found it, Alex wanted to pursue a career path that could lead to positive change. His search led him to become acquainted with MFJ and got right to work as a data engineer.
Mac Systems Administrator I
Jackson joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as an IT Support Technician. His responsibilities include working with the Internal Ops team providing support to the organization, testing and maintaining hardware and software. Jackson brings 8+ years of professional technical experience across multiple platforms and device types.
Previous experience includes working at Pentagram Design as the IT Administrator, supporting a mixed Apple and Windows environment and for Apple as a Genius mac technician. In his free time, Jackson can be found tinkering with his PC in his office or at the disc golf course. Jackson has a B.F.A in Photography from SUNY Purchase College.
Senior Software Engineer II
Bill Stumbo strongly believes data can drive positive change and is excited with the opportunity to apply his experience and passion to help make meaningful data about the criminal justice system available.
Bill joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Senior Software Developer bringing over 30 years of software development and delivery experience. He has worked on projects encompassing the whole software delivery lifecycle from research to development, delivery and maintenance. Bill has been awarded 10 patents for work in software architecture and system processes.
Since 2016, Bill has also worked as an adjunct faculty member for RIT’s Department of Software Engineering. He has mentored senior projects and taught both Introduction to Software Engineering and Software System Requirements and Architecture.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Masters of Science in Computer Science degree from RIT.
Engineering Manager II - Data
Brendan Stevenson joined Measures for Justice in June 2024 as a Software Engineering Manager. In his role, Brendan collaborates to ensure smooth delivery of high-quality, scalable, and reliable data ingestion, standardization, and scrubbing tools.
Before joining MFJ, Brendan has held software development and team leadership roles at Eagleview, Thomson Reuters, Paychex, Viewpoint Data Management, and more – all focused on getting the best we can out of the computational beasts we’ve got. He’s excited to put his skills to work in the service of adding data to the discourse!
Brendan holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science with a concentration in Digital Art from SUNY at Buffalo. He lives in Pittsford, NY, and enjoys spending time with his kids and wife, listening to books (imagining that someday he’ll be able to sit and read them again!), staying active, and sitting in a theater whenever he can.
Data Test Engineer II
Kimberly joined Measures for Justice as a Data Test Engineer in October 2024, bringing over 5 years of experience in quality assurance and data validation. She’s eager to help the QA Team establish up a robust backend automation test framework that will ensure the reliability and quality of the data we provide.
While not at work, she enjoys unwinding with a good book, watching horror movies, and spending time with her three green birds.
VP of Engineering
Staff Software Engineer II
Lars Schumann joined Measures for Justice as a member of the Data Engineering team in November 2022. He is passionate about advancing how humans understand and interact with complex information to drive decision making.
Lars brings 20 years of development experience across a variety of industries. His previous work includes the creation of a highly scalable, cloud-based computational engine to conduct simulation of energy models of commercial buildings. He has also built and supported a data backup & recovery system in a highly available, large-scale cloud environment with thousands of servers capable of backing up data in the exabyte range. He has a MS in Computer Science from the University of Magdeburg and worked at the University of Michigan’s Virtual Reality Laboratory and 3D Lab and Cornell University’s Program of Computer Graphics.
Director of Software Engineering
Jordan Place joined MFJ in 2022. He previously worked across the software stack on a database cloning system, an in-browser IDE, and a data platform for urban planners. He’s enthusiastic about shipping useful software and fostering a collaborative engineering culture.
Jordan holds a ScB in Computer Science from Brown University in Providence, RI. He lives in Oakland, CA.
Software Engineer III
Bobby Picciotti joined Measures for Justice as a member of the Software Engineering team in November 2022; he is excited to use data to bring further insight into our criminal justice system.
He brings half a decade’s Software Development experience working in application modernization using AWS cloud technologies. Bobby has worked with a variety of different software stacks on a number of different agile software teams. He has worked previously at EagleDream Technologies and PwC.
Originally from near Philadelphia Bobby enjoys reading, walking, and biking. He also tries to fit several backpacking trips into each Summer. He serves as a deacon at his church, Grace PCA, and helps with their youth program.
Bobby has a BS in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Software Engineer III
Avery is a Front End Web Developer who joined MFJ in January 2021, after interning for two consecutive summers. They work closely with other developers to work on all MFJ web applications. They have a B.S. in Human Centered Computing from Rochester Institute of Technology, with a focus in Accessibility, Front End Development, and Instructional Technology.
Senior Software Engineer II
Hassan Jegan Ndow joined Measures for Justice in May 2022 as a Senior Software Engineer to work with the Software Engineering team. Hassan brings 8 years of experience in web and software development within the healthcare industry, and specializes in full stack development.
Hassan has a B.A. in Information Technology, with a concentration in Mobile App Development, from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Data Test Engineer III
Peter Melia joined Measures For Justice in November 2023 as a data test engineer, leveraging over a decade of experience in software development and test automation. Peter holds bachelors degrees in Business and Computer Science and has worked for a variety of local companies in the Rochester area including Xerox and Paychex.
He is thrilled to join Measures for Justice’s initiative to deliver high quality criminal justice data to the public. Outside of work Peter enjoys playing guitar and drums, piano and any musical instrument he can acquire.
Sr. Software Engineer II
Jarad joined Measures for Justice in May of 2022 as a Software Engineer to work with the Data Engineering team. He brings 9 years of development experience in both the web development and air traffic management industries. He most recently worked on a system designed to increase efficiency of air traffic control towers by optimizing the scheduling of planes leaving their gates.
Senior Software Engineer III
Mariana joined Measures for Justice in April 2022 as a Senior Software Engineer. She brings with her more than 10 years experience in software development and I.T.
Prior to MFJ, she worked as a Software Engineer at Change Healthcare and an Application Development Specialist at Nationwide Insurance.
Mariana has a B.A. in Computer Science Engineering from Universidad Valle de México which she attended in her hometown of Culiacán, Sinaloa. She has lived in 5 countries and speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
Senior Software Engineer I
Engineering Manager II - Application
Pat Gallant joined MFJ in 2024 as an Engineering Manager. Prior to joining MFJ he has close to thirty years experience in software development across the e-learning, legal research, and legal publishing spaces. He is passionate about the craft of building software and creating solutions to help solve interesting problems.
Pat graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Computer Science and lives in the Rochester, NY area.
Software Engineer III
Jake Feerick joined the Data Engineering team at Measures for Justice as a Software Engineer in 2022. He is excited to make use of his passions for teamwork and sustainable design in this role. Prior to starting at MFJ, he spent two years developing radar analysis tools in the defense sector.
Jake graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the State University at Buffalo in 2019, where he also received a minor in Computer Science and a certificate in Data-Intensive Computing.
Senior Software Engineer I
Alec joined MFJ in February 2024 as a Senior Software Engineer. He has over 5 years of experience, having worked as a Full-Stack Engineer in ecommerce and the insurance space. He’s very excited to use everything he’s learned in service of MFJ’s mission!
Before working as a programmer, Alec taught English as a Foreign Language all around the world. He attributes his bug-hunting skills to the many years he spent proofreading his students’ homework.
Alec has a B.A. in English Writing from NYU, and he graduated top-of-class from App Academy’s coding bootcamp in NYC.
Platform Engineer II
Sem Vladyka joined the Internal DevOps team at Measures for Justice as a Platform Engineer in 2022. He is excited to make use of his automation expertise and passion for new technologies in his career path with MFJ.
Sem graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors in Computing and Information Technology in 2020.
Platform Engineer I
Meghan Bissonnette joined Measures for Justice in March 2023 as a Quality Assurance Analyst. As a member of the QA Team, she supported DevOps and platform optimization efforts. Meghan joined the DevOps/IT Team as a Platform Engineer in July 2024, where her responsibilities include updating and maintaining MFJ’s cloud infrastructure.
Meghan has been working in tech for over three years after a 10+ year career in arts and higher education. When not spending time with family or gardening, Meghan enjoys learning STEM subjects and is currently studying Mathematics and Computer Science online through the University of North Dakota.
Senior Software Engineer III
Karl Berger joined Measures for Justice in 2022 to work with the Software Engineering team.
He brings several years of experience transforming and integrating large datasets across legal, financial, and healthcare analytics domains. Having seen the potential for population analytics to transform the healthcare industry, he is excited to join Measures for Justice on their mission to bring quality criminal justice data to the public.
Karl has a BS degree in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Staff Software Engineer I
Ryan joined MFJ in July 2020 as a Senior Web Developer. He brings 12+ years of experience designing and building user-centered web and mobile applications, and is passionate about using technology to tell stories, enable exploration, and expand understanding.
Ryan has a B.A. in Digital Media Studies and Spanish Language & Literature, with minors in Computer Science & Leadership Studies, from the University of Denver.
Director of IT & DevOps
Ryan joined Measures for Justice in 2021 as a System Administrator. His responsibilities include working with the Internal Ops team to provide site reliability, developer support and continuous monitoring, testing, and improvement of our system infrastructure. Ryan brings 9+ years of professional software development experience and has worked in embedded systems engineering in aerospace, back-end web development, and most recently in DevOps engineering and system test and release automation. Ryan now serves as the IT Manager at MFJ and oversees IT and DevOps operations, Continuous Integration and Kubernetes Cluster administration
Ryan has a B.S. in Software Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, with minor(s) in Computer Security and Psychology.
Senior Civic Impact Manager
Kianna is currently a Senior Civic Impact Manager at Measures for Justice (MFJ), working to promote positive criminal justice social impact through data transparency and community partnerships. In her role, she hosts spaces with community members, including criminal justice practitioners & advisors, to support their equitable prosecutorial and policing efforts throughout their own neighborhoods.
Kianna brings nearly eight years of community safety experience within the nonprofit sector. Prior to MFJ, Kianna has led participatory budgeting efforts to enhance neighborhood safety efforts while in partnership with NYC’s Mayor Office of Criminal Justice. She has also supported key regions throughout the state of California by administering budget capacity and policy strategic implementation strategies as it pertains to the intersection between data, research, and local government budget analysis. In this, she collaboratively sustained a partnership with Los Angeles City’s Chief Administrative Office to co-create a community driven needs assessment data tool that aims to aid their department with fostering equitable local budget decisions. Kianna also previously led a team who administered direct pretrial resources while sustaining local criminal justice partnerships to support policy initiatives throughout the state of Missouri.
Kianna is a St. Louis, Missouri native. She received her Masters, studying social ethics, at Union of Columbia University. She is also a former 5-time All American NCAA Division 1 track & field athlete at the University of Tennessee; where she received her Bachelor’s of Administration–Marketing. In her down time she loves to stay active and creative by running, roller skating, bouldering, writing stories & embracing her love for fashion!
Director of Civic Impact & Collaboration
Rosaland Harrison joined Measures for Justice in June 2022.
As the Director of Community Engagement, Rosaland implements the organization’s community engagement strategic plan and manages a team of engagement practitioners. With over a decade of experience leading community-based initiatives and working in the criminal justice system, Rosaland brings valuable expertise to MFJ. Her background includes leading a pretrial diversion program and serving as a United States Probation Officer in the Middle District of Alabama.
Rosaland holds an MS in Foundations of Education and a BS in Criminal Justice from Troy University. She is also a graduate of the Southwest Alabama Police Academy.
Senior Impact & Outreach Manager
Brian Gunn assumed the role of Senior Engagement Manager at Measures for Justice (MFJ) in 2023, with a role to establish and manage relationships with key stakeholders, such as Community Advisory Board members and leaders of criminal justice agencies.
Brian has over a decade of experience in engagement and has honed his expertise in this field. Before joining MFJ, he worked as a Senior Strategist at CBG Strategies, where he successfully established relationships with stakeholders throughout the country, resulting in productive collaborations and positive outcomes. Additionally, Brian has worked extensively in the nonprofit sector in Alabama by implementing strategies to enhance economic vitality, increase access to equitable outcomes, and build capacity for organizations throughout the state.
Brian is committed to leveraging his engagement, communication, and leadership skills to positively impact communities across the county and in his hometown, where he serves on the Birmingham Planning Commission and as Board Chair for Offender Alumni Association.
VP of Civic Impact
Precious Freeman joined Measures for Justice in 2022. As the Director of National Engagement, Precious’ role is to develop and execute a robust model for dialogue and engagement among stakeholders.
For over a decade, Precious has worked to engage, inform, and empower marginalized communities in the deep south. Before joining MFJ, Precious worked as the Director of Development and External Relations for Woodlawn United in Birmingham, AL. She brings experience in spearheading community initiatives through her work as the Executive Director of the G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum, President of the Dothan Community Relations Group, and creator of Blueprint City®, a grass-roots, citizen-led initiative adopted as a top priority by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Dothan, Alabama.
Precious has served as a member of the Dothan Housing Authority Commission and the National Commissioners Committee for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. She currently serves on the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity.
Senior Civic Impact Manager
Darrell Forte joined Measures For Justice in June 2024
Darrell’s role will support the continued management of relationships with key stakeholders, such as Community Advisory Boards.
Prior to joining MFJ, Darrell worked at Shipt supporting economic development and social impact partnerships on a national scale. He has previously worked in higher education serving in the Office of the President at the University of Alabama at Birmingham leading external affairs initiatives and municipal government having served as a project manager for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office.
Darrell is committed to supporting underserved communities both locally and nationally – several of Darrell’s community affiliations include serving as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Regenerate Society, Co-Chair for the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Curriculum Instructor for the City of Birmingham’s Municipal Court, and Young Alumni Board for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Assistant Director of Partnership Development
Katricia joined Measures for Justice in October 2022. As a Senior Engagement Manager, Katricia is responsible for managing partner opportunities, stakeholder engagement and driving long-term impact of MFJ’s tools and products in communities.
Prior to joining MFJ, Katricia worked for Recidiviz as a State Engagement Manager, where she managed relationships with state Departments of Corrections and other criminal justice stakeholders to safely and equitable reduce the prison population. She also worked for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office, helping drive strategic initiatives within the Strategy Office and Office of Peace and Policy.
Katricia has a B.S. in Marketing from Alabama A&M University and an MPA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Chief People & Administrative Officer
Jill Wesley joined Measures for Justice in January 2020 as the Director of People and Internal Operations. In her role at MFJ, Jill will be responsible for assisting with the development of the organization’s culture and people as well as overseeing human resources functions.
Prior to coming to MFJ, Jill served as the Director of Career Services at the College at Brockport. She holds a JD from Indiana University-Indianapolis, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BA from Dartmouth College.
People Operations Business Partner
Rachel Snyder has over 10 years of nonprofit experience in program management, DEIB, and organizational development. She is a “People First” professional, and believes that people are the greatest asset and the foundation of any organization, and always ensures that people are central in her strategic planning. Prior to joining the team at Measures for Justice, she was an independent consultant, working with organizations such as Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, the James Beard Foundation, Genesee Land Trust, and Causewave Community Partners. When not at work, she enjoys live music, traveling, and reading.
Recruiter III
Austin joined Measures for Justice in 2023. As Recruiter II, Austin is responsible for recruiting talent across the organization to ensure continued growth and success for MFJ. He brings 5 years of recruiting experience in both for-profit and nonprofit environments, and he is passionate about providing efficient and positive experiences for candidates.
Prior to his time in recruiting, Austin spent 6 years as a middle school math teacher and track and field coach. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.A. in Educational Leadership.
Outside of work, Austin enjoys hiking, reading, watching professional track and field, and spending time with his boyfriend.
Administrative Assistant II
Skye joined Measures For Justice in March of 2023 as an Administrative Assistant. After mastering a menagerie of jobs across different industries, she is excited to have found a spot at MFJ.
Originally from the Albany, NY area, she has found a home here, in Rochester, the past few years. She is looking forward to finishing her degree in Psychology in the next year and plans on pursuing a degree in Forensic Psychology after that. Skye hopes that in working here she can discover even more about the field she is so passionate about and continue helping others in any way she can.
When not at work or in class, she enjoys baking, reading a good book, and updating the new home she shares with her fiance.
Administrative Assistant I
Melissa joined the Measures for Justice team in January 2024 as an Administrative Assistant.
Prior to coming to MFJ, she spent 11 years as a Senior Staff Assistant in the School of Information at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Melissa is a graduate of Skidmore College with a B.A. degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in Spanish, and a Studio Art minor with a focus in Metalsmithing and Photography. An admin by day, but an artist by night, she enjoys dabbling in fiber arts and jewelry making. As a lifelong resident of Rochester, NY, you can find her out and about with her son, exploring all that the area has to offer.
Director of Finance
Susan joined MFJ in 2023.
As Director of Finance, Susan is responsible for managing the financial operations and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance for the organization.
Prior to joining MFJ, Susan was the Chief Financial Officer for the Monroe Community College Foundation. Susan brings over 30 years of not-for-profit experience in finance/accounting. She was awarded the The SUNY Chancellor’s of Excellence in Professional Service in 2022 and The International Financial Executive of the Year in the category of Not-for-profit organizations in 2014.
Susan holds a BS in Accounting from University of South Florida and an MBA from the University at Tampa.
Administrative Director
Megan joined Measures for Justice in January 2022.
Previously Megan worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for thirteen years. During her time there, she was a Sr. Staff Assistant, Academic Advisor, and Office Manager.
Megan earned a BFA in Illustration, and a MS in Professional Studies from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Director of Compliance
Sandro joined Measures for Justice in April 2022 as the IT Compliance Manager. His responsibilities include supporting all the Measure for Justice Teams in creating their strategies and processes to keep systems and data secure.
He brings 15+ years of project management, agile methodology, and internal auditing experience. Sandro earned a BS degree in Technology Marketing & Distribution from Rochester Institute of Technology and an AAS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Monroe Community College. He is a certified Project Management Professional, SAFe5 Advance Scrum Master, and SAFe5 Release Train Engineer. Sandro is also fluent in both Italian and Spanish.
Previous experience at Unisys Corp, Xerox Corp, Fidelis Care of NY, and Centene Corp. In his free time Sandro enjoys coaching youth soccer, running, cycling, and motorcycling.
Director of Research & Data Management
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.
Product Manager I
Lucia joined Measures for Justice in October 2023 as a Product Manager. She received both her BS and MS in Computer Science from Fordham University. She got her start as a Product Manager creating educational video games to empower garment workers. And since then has continued to lead product development across multiple industries including Communications and Healthcare. She’s passionate about using data and technology to empower others and bring meaningful change to the criminal legal system.
Sr. Research Associate I
Dominic has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice (Constitutional Law and Procedure) as well as an Advanced Certification in Criminal Investigations during his tenure as a student of CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, New York.
“I believe in the work Measures for Justice is conducting. I am honored to be working for an organization that has the potential to directly influence the way policies are introduced and practices are conducted within the Criminal Justice System.” – Dominic Testino
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.
Research Associate I
Keren joined Measures for Justice in December 2021 after receiving her Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. As an undergrad, Keren worked as a research assistant at Penn, focusing on correlations related to violence. Keren has also interned at the American Bar Association, where she contributed to future international development and legal programs in Europe and Eurasia. Just prior to joining MFJ, Keren interned at DC Justice Lab, where she conducted research on automated traffic enforcement, police discipline, and Bureau of Prisons incidents.
As a Research Associate, Keren leverages her educational background and professional interests in criminology and forensic psychology. Her inaugural data management responsibilities include the cleaning and coding of new data from Cook County, Illinois. These data were provided through partnership with Loyola University, and will be used to build a dashboard that brings all their data into one place. Also a member of the team striving to create national-scale policing measures, Keren assists in helping to improve data transparency as she hones her research skills and grows professionally.
Keren, a Baltimore native, enjoys exploring and going on walks and bike rides during her free time. Also an avid baker — or as she jokes, a “procrasti-baker” — Keren hopes to have the opportunity to travel more and visit new places.
Product Owner III
Itunu joined Measures for Justice in 2023 as a Product Analyst III. He has a BSc in Accounting with over 8 years’ experience and expertise in utilizing Agile methodologies to facilitate cross-functional teams in product development and project implementation successfully.
Prior to joining MFJ, Itunu worked for several automotive companies as a Product lead ensuring value delivery to end users and customers while supporting organizational goals and objectives across US, Europe, and Nigeria.
Director of Design (UX/UI)
Carly Simmons is a designer who joined Measures for Justice in 2019. As the UX/UI Designer, Carly is responsible for the user experience and visual design of MFJ’s products and tools – especially their Data Portal.
Carly’s background includes architecture and furniture making, and she has experience in design across sustainability, education, and public policy sectors. She most recently finished her MFA where she designed a suite of products for new mothers living in metropolitan areas who do not have strong support networks nearby.
Carly holds an MFA in Products of Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and a B.A. in Architectural Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.
Project Manager II
Lindsey Rae joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Project Manager in the newly formed Project Management Office. She brings 10+ years of experience in project management and process analysis across IT and research environments. Prior to joining MFJ, she has worked with Red Hat, BD, Paychex, and the University of Rochester.
Lindsey holds a Master’s of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s of Science in International Studies with a minor in business from RIT.
Product Manager II
UX/UI Designer II
Sarah Liu joined Measures for Justice in April 2024. As a UX designer, she is responsible for the user experience and visual design of MFJ’s products and tools. She is passionate about helping local government improve their data quality. Before joining MFJ, she worked for startups in fintech and proptech. Sarah holds a BBA in Marketing Management from Baruch College in New York City.
While not at work, she enjoys biking, pottery, bouldering, and curling up on the sofa to read
Product Manager III
Emily Lising joined MFJ in January of 2022. As Product Manager, Emily is responsible for executing on our strategic vision and ensuring our products align with the market needs.
Prior to joining MFJ, Emily was a Product Manager in the healthcare space, leading the digital transformation of the member experience for a Pharmacy Benefit Management company. She has experience leading product innovation and software development across multiple industries and brings a diverse perspective to MFJ. She has her Associate degree in Paralegal Studies and Bachelors of Business Administration from Cleveland State University.
Data Scientist II
Reema joined Measures for Justice in October 2023 as a Data Scientist. She works on the Research and Strategic Initiatives team where she analyzes data and develops predictive modeling tools for various research projects.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Master of Professional Studies in Applied Statistics from Cornell University. Since then, she has honed her skills in data analysis and machine learning through work experience in the insurance industry. She is passionate about applying her technical background to MFJ’s mission of improving data transparency and accessibility in the criminal justice system.
Associate Data Scientist
Christopher Kelly joined MFJ in January 2022. As a Research Associate, Christopher is responsible for assembling, cleaning, visualizing, managing, and analyzing state and local criminal justice data.
Prior to joining MFJ, Christopher worked as a Research Associate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Lab for Economic Opportunities at the University of Notre Dame. In these roles, Christopher worked on experimental and quasi-experimental projects evaluating policies and programs designed to improve the criminal justice system and alleviate poverty. Previously, he was a graduate research associate at Arnold Ventures on the Criminal Justice Team. He also interned at the Vera Institute of Justice where he worked on national jail data collection and federal justice policy. Prior to this, he volunteered in an access to justice organization. Christopher holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, a Master of Science in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Sr. Research Associate I
Izaiah joined MFJ in September 2020 as a Legal Research Assistant and was promoted to Research Associate in February 2022. In his role, Izaiah works to contextualize our Measures through collection and codification of statutory laws. He has worked closely with other members of the Research and Strategic Initiatives team in the development of other MFJ projects or events including the PL-280 short report and the recent Roundtable on Improving Data for Racial Equity in Policing. Izaiah has taken on a community engagement role in ongoing policing projects.
Izaiah holds a BA from the University at Albany with a major in Criminal Justice and a dual minor in Political Science and English. During his time at Albany, Izaiah worked as a judicial intern with Westchester County courts, an investigative intern with the NYS DMV, and a student researcher with the Rensselaer County DA. Izaiah is interested in criminal law and data transparency and was drawn to the role that MFJ plays in both.
Izaiah lives in Rochester, NY but is originally from the New York City Metropolitan area. He enjoys spending time with his dog Lemon, staying active, and traveling when he gets the chance.
UX/UI Designer II
Jonathan Hoff joined Measures for Justice in 2022. As a UX/UI Designer, he is responsible for designing the user experience and visual style of MFJ’s data tools.
Jonathan received his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Clark University. He has experience designing apps for the modern web and an interest in Human-Computer Interaction, having researched how to moderate hate-group ideology in online video platforms.
Technical Product Manager
Kyle Henry joined Measures for Justice in 2023 as a Product Analyst. Kyle’s role as a Product analyst will be to analyze, prioritize, and execute product initiatives.
Prior to joining Measures for Justice Kyle worked at Paychex Inc. for 15 years in various roles, including 8 years as a Product/Business Analyst.
Kyle is a native of Rochester, NY, and attended West Virginia University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.
Data Quality Analyst II
Rhianna Hayes joined Measures for Justice in June 2020 after receiving her Masters of Science
degree in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to her Masters degree, she also received a Bachelors of Science Degree in both Criminal Justice and Political Science. Prior to joining MFJ, she worked as a Student Clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, as well as a Course Assistant and Research Assistant for the Criminal Justice Department at RIT.
As a Research Associate, she is responsible for assessing whether the data MFJ receives from our agency partners is viable and usable. In addition to assessing the data, she conducts data management, and has assisted other Research Associates on various Commons projects.
Senior Research Associate I
Nathan began his tenure at MFJ in February 2016 as a Research Intern from SUNY Geneseo, where he majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology. After taking a course on the sociology of deviance, Nathan became drawn to the field of criminology, and grew particularly interested in the role that big data plays in this space. As a Research Intern, Nathan nurtured that passion as he assisted the Research Team with coding of case-level data, assessing the availability of publicly accessible court data, and developing guidelines for future data acquisition.
Since joining MFJ full-time as a Research Assistant in June 2017, Nathan has contributed to a number of research ventures, most of which center on sourcing and analyzing contextual data. Early on he was influential in developing an imputation strategy to account for missingness in FBI UCR data. Over time his role has evolved to focus primarily on MFJ’s Legal Context project, which involves researching and codifying statutory laws in order to provide users of MFJ’s data portal with relevant contextual information for its Measures.
In early 2020, Nathan transitioned to the role of Senior Research Associate. Currently, his primary research interests include studying PL-280 and similar laws as they relate to tribal sovereignty, as well as an ongoing dedication to managing the Legal Context and other contextual data projects. More recently, he has taken on project management responsibilities for MFJ’s nascent Policing project. The work Nathan does allows him to tap into and leverage his fascination with the legal system, specifically the perspective gained by looking at the system through a historical lens. By better understanding the context surrounding its evolution, he has developed a newfound appreciation for the deliberative process of these systems.
A Rochester native, Nathan currently lives in Plattsburgh, NY, where he enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring new places and scenery in New York’s “North Country.” In his free time, Nathan enjoys mixing house records and painting.
VP of Product & Design
Throughout her career, Dr. Gipsy Escobar has worked in the private, public, academia, and nonprofit sectors; all of which have taught her many important lessons she applies to her work in Product today. As Measure for Justice’s VP of Product and Design, she’s responsible for understanding the data needs of criminal justice agencies around three areas: quality, transparency, and community engagement. She works cross-functionally with engineers, researchers, designers, product professionals, and engagement specialists to translate these needs into solutions that improve the quality and use of data routinely collected by the system. She also provides subject matter expertise as a criminologist and researcher to ensure that the solutions MFJ develops are responsive to the complex needs of criminal justice stakeholders and follow best data practices.
As MFJ’s Director of Research and Analytics (2015-2018), Dr. Escobar incubated MFJ’s Research Team, and worked with national experts to design and validate a system of performance measurement for local criminal justice, and to develop a robust methodology to standardize the management of criminal justice data from varied sources across jurisdictions in the United States.
Dr. Escobar holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York Graduate Center and John Jay College.
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.
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.
Research Associate I
Camila Camps joined Measures for Justice in December 2021 after receiving her Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to her Masters degree, she also received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. As a Research Associate, Camila’s responsibilities include standardizing, cleaning, and analyzing state and local criminal justice data.
Prior to joining MFJ, Camila had the opportunity to work on many criminal justice related issues. While completing her Bachelor’s degree, she worked as a student researcher analyzing sex offender treatment data. She also interned at the U.S Probation and Pretrial Services where she gained invaluable experience working within the Criminal Justice system. Her research interests include criminal justice reform, mass incarceration, and immigration reform.
Product Owner II
Sami joined Measures for Justice in August of 2023 as a Product Analyst II.
She graduated from St John Fisher College with a BS in Marketing but has spent the better part of the last decade as an analyst in the private sector, health care and financial industries. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of stakeholders as well as team members and being a “bridge between worlds”
When not at work Sami is an active volunteer and board member of the Walworth Lion’s club and enjoys spending time in her garden
Sr. Research Associate II
Kayla joined MFJ in 2022, following 5 years with the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Monroe County Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative. As a Senior Research Associate, Kayla works with external agency partners to evaluate their data infrastructure, and to ensure data are valuable for agencies and transparent to local communities. To her projects, she brings her extensive experience building justice system datasets, from working with the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center and the Rochester Police Department’s Crime Analysis Center. Currently, Kayla is responsible for helping shape MFJ’s Policing Measurement project, and supporting the Justice Counts measurement project. She also contributes to the organization’s research agenda.
Kayla holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Niagara University, and her research interests include program evaluation, evidence-based policy, and crime analysis. In her free time – and when she is not working on her house – Kayla can be found wandering Rochester’s abundance of hiking trails, and spending time with her two pups.
Product Owner II
Originally from Manhattan, Nakeia received her Bachelor of Science in Human-Centered Computing from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Before joining MFJ, she worked at ProTranslating (Big Language Solutions), where she contributed to the development of user-focused translation software. With a strong background in agile methodologies, she emphasizes collaboration to achieve impactful outcomes.
Outside of work, Nakeia enjoys staying active with longboarding, trying new fitness routines, and perfecting her espresso-making skills.
Research Coordinator
Chief Product Officer
Ron Adams joined MFJ as Chief Product Officer in 2024. Ron is a seasoned product leader with a diverse background in directing product development teams and initiatives at prominent companies such as Atlassian and Zoom, as well as co-founder and CTO of Hall.com (acquired by Atlassian).
With over 20 years of industry experience in web-based, mobile, and SaaS-based software development, Ron brings a highly collaborative, user-focused, and iterative philosophy to the product creation process. As a devotee of advancing the art of business and product management, Ron is always looking for better ways to facilitate communication, foster collaboration, and scale product teams. Ron’s approach to product management is rooted in strategic thinking, data-informed decision-making, and goal-setting to empower teams and help them achieve autonomy and operational excellence.
Ron is thrilled at the opportunity to help the MFJ team realize its mission to reshape the criminal justice system.
Senior Research Associate II
Alexandra Ackles joined MFJ in June of 2019. In her role as a Research Associate, Alexandra helped to complete MFJ’s 20×2020 initiative by cleaning and coding state court data for Indiana and Virginia. She has also completed the cleaning and coding of data from the San Francisco County DA’s office and is currently working on a project with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office to assess the effects of their 2020 $0 bail policy.
Prior to joining MFJ, Alexandra graduated from SUNY Fredonia, where she majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology with a minor in Statistics. Alexandra went on to work as a Court Services Interviewer for Pretrial Services in Rochester, NY, and as a Supervision Officer for Pretrial Services in Dallas, TX, where she gained invaluable experience within the Criminal Justice system. She also has experience working as an investigator for Monroe County Child Protective Services.
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Samantha J. Silver joined Measures for Justice in 2011 and works closely with Amy to help turn her vision and the MFJ mission into a reality. Samantha provides ongoing organizational and project strategic counsel, project management, and day-to-day operational support.
Prior to joining MFJ, Samantha worked for over ten years with leading public relations agencies, including the global PR firm Edelman. Her work there included a posting to Shanghai as the Asia Pacific Marketing Manager where she created and implemented business strategies and marketing campaigns to reposition Edelman across eight Asia-Pacific markets.
Samantha received an executive MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in Shanghai, China, and a BA in Honors Sociology from McGill University in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Digital Marketing & Communications Associate I
Kelsey Rausch joined Measures for Justice in April of 2024.
Director of Marketing and Communications
Khyrunnessa joined MFJ in August, 2023.
As the Director of Marketing & Communications, she is responsible for managing the Marketing and Communications functions for the organization.
Prior to joining MFJ, she served as the VP of Marketing for a Fintech startup under the Urban One umbrella. Khyrunnessa brings over 20 years of hands-on strategic marketing experience. In 2019, she started her own real estate business and is currently an avid real estate investor.
Khyrunnessa holds a BS in Marketing from Wright State University and an MBA from Wright State University.
Philanthropy Officer
Rachel Carey joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Donor Experience Manager on our growing Development team. Throughout her career she has managed multi-channel fundraising campaigns and events, built and scaled passive fundraising opportunities, and crafted communications to inspire and enable individuals to contribute meaningfully to nonprofit organizations.
Hailing from Casper, Wyoming, Rachel holds a B.A. in Marketing and a B.A. in French from Western Washington University. Prior to arriving in NYC, she worked as a collegiate admissions counselor for her alma mater, stewarding students and families by elevating their personal experiences and providing support. Learning about systemic issues through student voices, her passion and dedication to enacting large-scale systemic change was ignited.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking (and eating!) great food, exploring the outdoors through hiking and scuba diving, and devouring a good story. Her friends, family and colleagues would describe her as tenacious, curious, and sincere.
Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
Allyssa Birth joined Measures for Justice in 2021 as a Communications and Development Strategist on our growing Communications team. Throughout her career she has managed quantitative and qualitative market research studies, worked as a brand manager in the spirits industry, and served the marketing needs of numerous clients in both the for profit and nonprofit space.
She brings over 10 years of both business to business and consumer marketing experience to the MFJ team with expertise in branding, social media and email marketing.
Director of Development
D’Angelo Bailey joined Measures for Justice in June 2024 and is responsible for building and executing a robust fundraising plan for the organization. He works closely with Amy and the executive team to help the organization sustain and grow its existing philanthropic revenue portfolio as well as develop a targeted individual giving program while diversifying foundation support.
Prior to joining MFJ, D’Angelo was Assistant Director of Development at the Center for Policing Equity where he focused on growing the individual giving program, prioritizing major gifts. He managed a national portfolio of individual donors with an emphasis on California and New York.
D’Angelo received a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a BA in Psychology from Kalamazoo College.
Chief People & Administrative Officer
Jill Wesley joined Measures for Justice in January 2020 as the Director of People and Internal Operations. In her role at MFJ, Jill will be responsible for assisting with the development of the organization’s culture and people as well as overseeing human resources functions.
Prior to coming to MFJ, Jill served as the Director of Career Services at the College at Brockport. She holds a JD from Indiana University-Indianapolis, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BA from Dartmouth College.
VP of Engineering
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Samantha J. Silver joined Measures for Justice in 2011 and works closely with Amy to help turn her vision and the MFJ mission into a reality. Samantha provides ongoing organizational and project strategic counsel, project management, and day-to-day operational support.
Prior to joining MFJ, Samantha worked for over ten years with leading public relations agencies, including the global PR firm Edelman. Her work there included a posting to Shanghai as the Asia Pacific Marketing Manager where she created and implemented business strategies and marketing campaigns to reposition Edelman across eight Asia-Pacific markets.
Samantha received an executive MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in Shanghai, China, and a BA in Honors Sociology from McGill University in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Chief of Staff
Robert Hutchison joined MFJ in 2016 while completing his Ph.D. in Criminology at the Pennsylvania State University. As MFJ’s Director of Research Management, he is co-managing the Research Team, overseeing the processing and management of MFJ’s data sets, internal data auditing, and publishing academic works to establish MFJ as a scientific resource.
Robert’s dissertation, “Shared History, Shared Decisions: Using Social Networks to Examine Court Communities,” takes a fresh look at the court communities’ perspective developed by Eisenstein, et al., by applying a social networks approach. Robert is looking at the impact of experience and relationships among prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys upon case outcomes.
Robert’s previous work has produced reports to the Pennsylvania legislature and a publication in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.
His research interests include social networks, courts, corrections, life course criminology, and criminological theory.
VP of Civic Impact
Precious Freeman joined Measures for Justice in 2022. As the Director of National Engagement, Precious’ role is to develop and execute a robust model for dialogue and engagement among stakeholders.
For over a decade, Precious has worked to engage, inform, and empower marginalized communities in the deep south. Before joining MFJ, Precious worked as the Director of Development and External Relations for Woodlawn United in Birmingham, AL. She brings experience in spearheading community initiatives through her work as the Executive Director of the G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum, President of the Dothan Community Relations Group, and creator of Blueprint City®, a grass-roots, citizen-led initiative adopted as a top priority by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Dothan, Alabama.
Precious has served as a member of the Dothan Housing Authority Commission and the National Commissioners Committee for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. She currently serves on the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity.
Chief Executive Officer
Amy Bach has been the Chief Executive Officer of Measures for Justice since 2011. She founded the organization as a follow-up to her acclaimed book, Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court, which won the 2010 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. In June 2011, Echoing Green, a premier seed investor for social entrepreneurs, selected Amy as a Fellow out of 3,000 candidates worldwide to support the launch of Measures for Justice. Following that, she was named a Draper Richards Kaplan Social Entrepreneur. For her work on Ordinary Injustice, Amy received a Soros Media Fellowship, a special J. Anthony Lukas citation, and a Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard University. Amy was a Knight Foundation Journalism Fellow at Yale Law School and is a graduate of Stanford Law School. In 2012, she taught Criminal Law during the spring semester at the University of Buffalo Law School as a Visiting Professor. In 2019, she won the Academy of Criminal Justice Science’s Leadership and Innovation Award and the Charles Bronfman Prize. Amy lives in Rochester, NY, where the organization is based.
Chief Product Officer
Ron Adams joined MFJ as Chief Product Officer in 2024. Ron is a seasoned product leader with a diverse background in directing product development teams and initiatives at prominent companies such as Atlassian and Zoom, as well as co-founder and CTO of Hall.com (acquired by Atlassian).
With over 20 years of industry experience in web-based, mobile, and SaaS-based software development, Ron brings a highly collaborative, user-focused, and iterative philosophy to the product creation process. As a devotee of advancing the art of business and product management, Ron is always looking for better ways to facilitate communication, foster collaboration, and scale product teams. Ron’s approach to product management is rooted in strategic thinking, data-informed decision-making, and goal-setting to empower teams and help them achieve autonomy and operational excellence.
Ron is thrilled at the opportunity to help the MFJ team realize its mission to reshape the criminal justice system.
Chief People & Administrative Officer
Jill Wesley joined Measures for Justice in January 2020 as the Director of People and Internal Operations. In her role at MFJ, Jill will be responsible for assisting with the development of the organization’s culture and people as well as overseeing human resources functions.
Prior to coming to MFJ, Jill served as the Director of Career Services at the College at Brockport. She holds a JD from Indiana University-Indianapolis, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BA from Dartmouth College.
Director of Research & Data Management
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.
Software Engineer III
Aleksandr Voytovich joined Measure for Justice in the summer of 2021 as a software developer.
He earned his B.A. in Computer Science from Oswego State University, with a job ready to go right out of college. He started his career in 2019 in the government sector, specializing in computing and visualizing data, and moving between various types of work that included a wide array of technologies and systems.
With a passion for technology, criminal justice, and the desire to leave this world better than he found it, Alex wanted to pursue a career path that could lead to positive change. His search led him to become acquainted with MFJ and got right to work as a data engineer.
Mac Systems Administrator I
Jackson joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as an IT Support Technician. His responsibilities include working with the Internal Ops team providing support to the organization, testing and maintaining hardware and software. Jackson brings 8+ years of professional technical experience across multiple platforms and device types.
Previous experience includes working at Pentagram Design as the IT Administrator, supporting a mixed Apple and Windows environment and for Apple as a Genius mac technician. In his free time, Jackson can be found tinkering with his PC in his office or at the disc golf course. Jackson has a B.F.A in Photography from SUNY Purchase College.
Product Manager I
Lucia joined Measures for Justice in October 2023 as a Product Manager. She received both her BS and MS in Computer Science from Fordham University. She got her start as a Product Manager creating educational video games to empower garment workers. And since then has continued to lead product development across multiple industries including Communications and Healthcare. She’s passionate about using data and technology to empower others and bring meaningful change to the criminal legal system.
Sr. Research Associate I
Dominic has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice (Constitutional Law and Procedure) as well as an Advanced Certification in Criminal Investigations during his tenure as a student of CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, New York.
“I believe in the work Measures for Justice is conducting. I am honored to be working for an organization that has the potential to directly influence the way policies are introduced and practices are conducted within the Criminal Justice System.” – Dominic Testino
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.
Senior Software Engineer II
Bill Stumbo strongly believes data can drive positive change and is excited with the opportunity to apply his experience and passion to help make meaningful data about the criminal justice system available.
Bill joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Senior Software Developer bringing over 30 years of software development and delivery experience. He has worked on projects encompassing the whole software delivery lifecycle from research to development, delivery and maintenance. Bill has been awarded 10 patents for work in software architecture and system processes.
Since 2016, Bill has also worked as an adjunct faculty member for RIT’s Department of Software Engineering. He has mentored senior projects and taught both Introduction to Software Engineering and Software System Requirements and Architecture.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Masters of Science in Computer Science degree from RIT.
Engineering Manager II - Data
Brendan Stevenson joined Measures for Justice in June 2024 as a Software Engineering Manager. In his role, Brendan collaborates to ensure smooth delivery of high-quality, scalable, and reliable data ingestion, standardization, and scrubbing tools.
Before joining MFJ, Brendan has held software development and team leadership roles at Eagleview, Thomson Reuters, Paychex, Viewpoint Data Management, and more – all focused on getting the best we can out of the computational beasts we’ve got. He’s excited to put his skills to work in the service of adding data to the discourse!
Brendan holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science with a concentration in Digital Art from SUNY at Buffalo. He lives in Pittsford, NY, and enjoys spending time with his kids and wife, listening to books (imagining that someday he’ll be able to sit and read them again!), staying active, and sitting in a theater whenever he can.
Research Associate I
Keren joined Measures for Justice in December 2021 after receiving her Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. As an undergrad, Keren worked as a research assistant at Penn, focusing on correlations related to violence. Keren has also interned at the American Bar Association, where she contributed to future international development and legal programs in Europe and Eurasia. Just prior to joining MFJ, Keren interned at DC Justice Lab, where she conducted research on automated traffic enforcement, police discipline, and Bureau of Prisons incidents.
As a Research Associate, Keren leverages her educational background and professional interests in criminology and forensic psychology. Her inaugural data management responsibilities include the cleaning and coding of new data from Cook County, Illinois. These data were provided through partnership with Loyola University, and will be used to build a dashboard that brings all their data into one place. Also a member of the team striving to create national-scale policing measures, Keren assists in helping to improve data transparency as she hones her research skills and grows professionally.
Keren, a Baltimore native, enjoys exploring and going on walks and bike rides during her free time. Also an avid baker — or as she jokes, a “procrasti-baker” — Keren hopes to have the opportunity to travel more and visit new places.
Data Test Engineer II
Kimberly joined Measures for Justice as a Data Test Engineer in October 2024, bringing over 5 years of experience in quality assurance and data validation. She’s eager to help the QA Team establish up a robust backend automation test framework that will ensure the reliability and quality of the data we provide.
While not at work, she enjoys unwinding with a good book, watching horror movies, and spending time with her three green birds.
Product Owner III
Itunu joined Measures for Justice in 2023 as a Product Analyst III. He has a BSc in Accounting with over 8 years’ experience and expertise in utilizing Agile methodologies to facilitate cross-functional teams in product development and project implementation successfully.
Prior to joining MFJ, Itunu worked for several automotive companies as a Product lead ensuring value delivery to end users and customers while supporting organizational goals and objectives across US, Europe, and Nigeria.
People Operations Business Partner
Rachel Snyder has over 10 years of nonprofit experience in program management, DEIB, and organizational development. She is a “People First” professional, and believes that people are the greatest asset and the foundation of any organization, and always ensures that people are central in her strategic planning. Prior to joining the team at Measures for Justice, she was an independent consultant, working with organizations such as Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, the James Beard Foundation, Genesee Land Trust, and Causewave Community Partners. When not at work, she enjoys live music, traveling, and reading.
VP of Engineering
Director of Design (UX/UI)
Carly Simmons is a designer who joined Measures for Justice in 2019. As the UX/UI Designer, Carly is responsible for the user experience and visual design of MFJ’s products and tools – especially their Data Portal.
Carly’s background includes architecture and furniture making, and she has experience in design across sustainability, education, and public policy sectors. She most recently finished her MFA where she designed a suite of products for new mothers living in metropolitan areas who do not have strong support networks nearby.
Carly holds an MFA in Products of Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and a B.A. in Architectural Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Samantha J. Silver joined Measures for Justice in 2011 and works closely with Amy to help turn her vision and the MFJ mission into a reality. Samantha provides ongoing organizational and project strategic counsel, project management, and day-to-day operational support.
Prior to joining MFJ, Samantha worked for over ten years with leading public relations agencies, including the global PR firm Edelman. Her work there included a posting to Shanghai as the Asia Pacific Marketing Manager where she created and implemented business strategies and marketing campaigns to reposition Edelman across eight Asia-Pacific markets.
Samantha received an executive MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in Shanghai, China, and a BA in Honors Sociology from McGill University in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Staff Software Engineer II
Lars Schumann joined Measures for Justice as a member of the Data Engineering team in November 2022. He is passionate about advancing how humans understand and interact with complex information to drive decision making.
Lars brings 20 years of development experience across a variety of industries. His previous work includes the creation of a highly scalable, cloud-based computational engine to conduct simulation of energy models of commercial buildings. He has also built and supported a data backup & recovery system in a highly available, large-scale cloud environment with thousands of servers capable of backing up data in the exabyte range. He has a MS in Computer Science from the University of Magdeburg and worked at the University of Michigan’s Virtual Reality Laboratory and 3D Lab and Cornell University’s Program of Computer Graphics.
Senior Civic Impact Manager
Kianna is currently a Senior Civic Impact Manager at Measures for Justice (MFJ), working to promote positive criminal justice social impact through data transparency and community partnerships. In her role, she hosts spaces with community members, including criminal justice practitioners & advisors, to support their equitable prosecutorial and policing efforts throughout their own neighborhoods.
Kianna brings nearly eight years of community safety experience within the nonprofit sector. Prior to MFJ, Kianna has led participatory budgeting efforts to enhance neighborhood safety efforts while in partnership with NYC’s Mayor Office of Criminal Justice. She has also supported key regions throughout the state of California by administering budget capacity and policy strategic implementation strategies as it pertains to the intersection between data, research, and local government budget analysis. In this, she collaboratively sustained a partnership with Los Angeles City’s Chief Administrative Office to co-create a community driven needs assessment data tool that aims to aid their department with fostering equitable local budget decisions. Kianna also previously led a team who administered direct pretrial resources while sustaining local criminal justice partnerships to support policy initiatives throughout the state of Missouri.
Kianna is a St. Louis, Missouri native. She received her Masters, studying social ethics, at Union of Columbia University. She is also a former 5-time All American NCAA Division 1 track & field athlete at the University of Tennessee; where she received her Bachelor’s of Administration–Marketing. In her down time she loves to stay active and creative by running, roller skating, bouldering, writing stories & embracing her love for fashion!
Recruiter III
Austin joined Measures for Justice in 2023. As Recruiter II, Austin is responsible for recruiting talent across the organization to ensure continued growth and success for MFJ. He brings 5 years of recruiting experience in both for-profit and nonprofit environments, and he is passionate about providing efficient and positive experiences for candidates.
Prior to his time in recruiting, Austin spent 6 years as a middle school math teacher and track and field coach. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.A. in Educational Leadership.
Outside of work, Austin enjoys hiking, reading, watching professional track and field, and spending time with his boyfriend.
Digital Marketing & Communications Associate I
Kelsey Rausch joined Measures for Justice in April of 2024.
Project Manager II
Lindsey Rae joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Project Manager in the newly formed Project Management Office. She brings 10+ years of experience in project management and process analysis across IT and research environments. Prior to joining MFJ, she has worked with Red Hat, BD, Paychex, and the University of Rochester.
Lindsey holds a Master’s of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s of Science in International Studies with a minor in business from RIT.
Director of Marketing and Communications
Khyrunnessa joined MFJ in August, 2023.
As the Director of Marketing & Communications, she is responsible for managing the Marketing and Communications functions for the organization.
Prior to joining MFJ, she served as the VP of Marketing for a Fintech startup under the Urban One umbrella. Khyrunnessa brings over 20 years of hands-on strategic marketing experience. In 2019, she started her own real estate business and is currently an avid real estate investor.
Khyrunnessa holds a BS in Marketing from Wright State University and an MBA from Wright State University.
Director of Software Engineering
Jordan Place joined MFJ in 2022. He previously worked across the software stack on a database cloning system, an in-browser IDE, and a data platform for urban planners. He’s enthusiastic about shipping useful software and fostering a collaborative engineering culture.
Jordan holds a ScB in Computer Science from Brown University in Providence, RI. He lives in Oakland, CA.
Software Engineer III
Bobby Picciotti joined Measures for Justice as a member of the Software Engineering team in November 2022; he is excited to use data to bring further insight into our criminal justice system.
He brings half a decade’s Software Development experience working in application modernization using AWS cloud technologies. Bobby has worked with a variety of different software stacks on a number of different agile software teams. He has worked previously at EagleDream Technologies and PwC.
Originally from near Philadelphia Bobby enjoys reading, walking, and biking. He also tries to fit several backpacking trips into each Summer. He serves as a deacon at his church, Grace PCA, and helps with their youth program.
Bobby has a BS in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Software Engineer III
Avery is a Front End Web Developer who joined MFJ in January 2021, after interning for two consecutive summers. They work closely with other developers to work on all MFJ web applications. They have a B.S. in Human Centered Computing from Rochester Institute of Technology, with a focus in Accessibility, Front End Development, and Instructional Technology.
Administrative Assistant II
Skye joined Measures For Justice in March of 2023 as an Administrative Assistant. After mastering a menagerie of jobs across different industries, she is excited to have found a spot at MFJ.
Originally from the Albany, NY area, she has found a home here, in Rochester, the past few years. She is looking forward to finishing her degree in Psychology in the next year and plans on pursuing a degree in Forensic Psychology after that. Skye hopes that in working here she can discover even more about the field she is so passionate about and continue helping others in any way she can.
When not at work or in class, she enjoys baking, reading a good book, and updating the new home she shares with her fiance.
Senior Software Engineer II
Hassan Jegan Ndow joined Measures for Justice in May 2022 as a Senior Software Engineer to work with the Software Engineering team. Hassan brings 8 years of experience in web and software development within the healthcare industry, and specializes in full stack development.
Hassan has a B.A. in Information Technology, with a concentration in Mobile App Development, from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Product Manager II
Data Test Engineer III
Peter Melia joined Measures For Justice in November 2023 as a data test engineer, leveraging over a decade of experience in software development and test automation. Peter holds bachelors degrees in Business and Computer Science and has worked for a variety of local companies in the Rochester area including Xerox and Paychex.
He is thrilled to join Measures for Justice’s initiative to deliver high quality criminal justice data to the public. Outside of work Peter enjoys playing guitar and drums, piano and any musical instrument he can acquire.
UX/UI Designer II
Sarah Liu joined Measures for Justice in April 2024. As a UX designer, she is responsible for the user experience and visual design of MFJ’s products and tools. She is passionate about helping local government improve their data quality. Before joining MFJ, she worked for startups in fintech and proptech. Sarah holds a BBA in Marketing Management from Baruch College in New York City.
While not at work, she enjoys biking, pottery, bouldering, and curling up on the sofa to read
Product Manager III
Emily Lising joined MFJ in January of 2022. As Product Manager, Emily is responsible for executing on our strategic vision and ensuring our products align with the market needs.
Prior to joining MFJ, Emily was a Product Manager in the healthcare space, leading the digital transformation of the member experience for a Pharmacy Benefit Management company. She has experience leading product innovation and software development across multiple industries and brings a diverse perspective to MFJ. She has her Associate degree in Paralegal Studies and Bachelors of Business Administration from Cleveland State University.
Data Scientist II
Reema joined Measures for Justice in October 2023 as a Data Scientist. She works on the Research and Strategic Initiatives team where she analyzes data and develops predictive modeling tools for various research projects.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Master of Professional Studies in Applied Statistics from Cornell University. Since then, she has honed her skills in data analysis and machine learning through work experience in the insurance industry. She is passionate about applying her technical background to MFJ’s mission of improving data transparency and accessibility in the criminal justice system.
Sr. Software Engineer II
Jarad joined Measures for Justice in May of 2022 as a Software Engineer to work with the Data Engineering team. He brings 9 years of development experience in both the web development and air traffic management industries. He most recently worked on a system designed to increase efficiency of air traffic control towers by optimizing the scheduling of planes leaving their gates.
Associate Data Scientist
Christopher Kelly joined MFJ in January 2022. As a Research Associate, Christopher is responsible for assembling, cleaning, visualizing, managing, and analyzing state and local criminal justice data.
Prior to joining MFJ, Christopher worked as a Research Associate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Lab for Economic Opportunities at the University of Notre Dame. In these roles, Christopher worked on experimental and quasi-experimental projects evaluating policies and programs designed to improve the criminal justice system and alleviate poverty. Previously, he was a graduate research associate at Arnold Ventures on the Criminal Justice Team. He also interned at the Vera Institute of Justice where he worked on national jail data collection and federal justice policy. Prior to this, he volunteered in an access to justice organization. Christopher holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, a Master of Science in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Sr. Research Associate I
Izaiah joined MFJ in September 2020 as a Legal Research Assistant and was promoted to Research Associate in February 2022. In his role, Izaiah works to contextualize our Measures through collection and codification of statutory laws. He has worked closely with other members of the Research and Strategic Initiatives team in the development of other MFJ projects or events including the PL-280 short report and the recent Roundtable on Improving Data for Racial Equity in Policing. Izaiah has taken on a community engagement role in ongoing policing projects.
Izaiah holds a BA from the University at Albany with a major in Criminal Justice and a dual minor in Political Science and English. During his time at Albany, Izaiah worked as a judicial intern with Westchester County courts, an investigative intern with the NYS DMV, and a student researcher with the Rensselaer County DA. Izaiah is interested in criminal law and data transparency and was drawn to the role that MFJ plays in both.
Izaiah lives in Rochester, NY but is originally from the New York City Metropolitan area. He enjoys spending time with his dog Lemon, staying active, and traveling when he gets the chance.
Chief of Staff
Robert Hutchison joined MFJ in 2016 while completing his Ph.D. in Criminology at the Pennsylvania State University. As MFJ’s Director of Research Management, he is co-managing the Research Team, overseeing the processing and management of MFJ’s data sets, internal data auditing, and publishing academic works to establish MFJ as a scientific resource.
Robert’s dissertation, “Shared History, Shared Decisions: Using Social Networks to Examine Court Communities,” takes a fresh look at the court communities’ perspective developed by Eisenstein, et al., by applying a social networks approach. Robert is looking at the impact of experience and relationships among prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys upon case outcomes.
Robert’s previous work has produced reports to the Pennsylvania legislature and a publication in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.
His research interests include social networks, courts, corrections, life course criminology, and criminological theory.
Senior Software Engineer III
Mariana joined Measures for Justice in April 2022 as a Senior Software Engineer. She brings with her more than 10 years experience in software development and I.T.
Prior to MFJ, she worked as a Software Engineer at Change Healthcare and an Application Development Specialist at Nationwide Insurance.
Mariana has a B.A. in Computer Science Engineering from Universidad Valle de México which she attended in her hometown of Culiacán, Sinaloa. She has lived in 5 countries and speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
UX/UI Designer II
Jonathan Hoff joined Measures for Justice in 2022. As a UX/UI Designer, he is responsible for designing the user experience and visual style of MFJ’s data tools.
Jonathan received his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Clark University. He has experience designing apps for the modern web and an interest in Human-Computer Interaction, having researched how to moderate hate-group ideology in online video platforms.
Technical Product Manager
Kyle Henry joined Measures for Justice in 2023 as a Product Analyst. Kyle’s role as a Product analyst will be to analyze, prioritize, and execute product initiatives.
Prior to joining Measures for Justice Kyle worked at Paychex Inc. for 15 years in various roles, including 8 years as a Product/Business Analyst.
Kyle is a native of Rochester, NY, and attended West Virginia University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.
Data Quality Analyst II
Rhianna Hayes joined Measures for Justice in June 2020 after receiving her Masters of Science
degree in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to her Masters degree, she also received a Bachelors of Science Degree in both Criminal Justice and Political Science. Prior to joining MFJ, she worked as a Student Clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, as well as a Course Assistant and Research Assistant for the Criminal Justice Department at RIT.
As a Research Associate, she is responsible for assessing whether the data MFJ receives from our agency partners is viable and usable. In addition to assessing the data, she conducts data management, and has assisted other Research Associates on various Commons projects.
Senior Research Associate I
Nathan began his tenure at MFJ in February 2016 as a Research Intern from SUNY Geneseo, where he majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology. After taking a course on the sociology of deviance, Nathan became drawn to the field of criminology, and grew particularly interested in the role that big data plays in this space. As a Research Intern, Nathan nurtured that passion as he assisted the Research Team with coding of case-level data, assessing the availability of publicly accessible court data, and developing guidelines for future data acquisition.
Since joining MFJ full-time as a Research Assistant in June 2017, Nathan has contributed to a number of research ventures, most of which center on sourcing and analyzing contextual data. Early on he was influential in developing an imputation strategy to account for missingness in FBI UCR data. Over time his role has evolved to focus primarily on MFJ’s Legal Context project, which involves researching and codifying statutory laws in order to provide users of MFJ’s data portal with relevant contextual information for its Measures.
In early 2020, Nathan transitioned to the role of Senior Research Associate. Currently, his primary research interests include studying PL-280 and similar laws as they relate to tribal sovereignty, as well as an ongoing dedication to managing the Legal Context and other contextual data projects. More recently, he has taken on project management responsibilities for MFJ’s nascent Policing project. The work Nathan does allows him to tap into and leverage his fascination with the legal system, specifically the perspective gained by looking at the system through a historical lens. By better understanding the context surrounding its evolution, he has developed a newfound appreciation for the deliberative process of these systems.
A Rochester native, Nathan currently lives in Plattsburgh, NY, where he enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring new places and scenery in New York’s “North Country.” In his free time, Nathan enjoys mixing house records and painting.
Director of Civic Impact & Collaboration
Rosaland Harrison joined Measures for Justice in June 2022.
As the Director of Community Engagement, Rosaland implements the organization’s community engagement strategic plan and manages a team of engagement practitioners. With over a decade of experience leading community-based initiatives and working in the criminal justice system, Rosaland brings valuable expertise to MFJ. Her background includes leading a pretrial diversion program and serving as a United States Probation Officer in the Middle District of Alabama.
Rosaland holds an MS in Foundations of Education and a BS in Criminal Justice from Troy University. She is also a graduate of the Southwest Alabama Police Academy.
Administrative Assistant I
Melissa joined the Measures for Justice team in January 2024 as an Administrative Assistant.
Prior to coming to MFJ, she spent 11 years as a Senior Staff Assistant in the School of Information at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Melissa is a graduate of Skidmore College with a B.A. degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in Spanish, and a Studio Art minor with a focus in Metalsmithing and Photography. An admin by day, but an artist by night, she enjoys dabbling in fiber arts and jewelry making. As a lifelong resident of Rochester, NY, you can find her out and about with her son, exploring all that the area has to offer.
Director of Finance
Susan joined MFJ in 2023.
As Director of Finance, Susan is responsible for managing the financial operations and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance for the organization.
Prior to joining MFJ, Susan was the Chief Financial Officer for the Monroe Community College Foundation. Susan brings over 30 years of not-for-profit experience in finance/accounting. She was awarded the The SUNY Chancellor’s of Excellence in Professional Service in 2022 and The International Financial Executive of the Year in the category of Not-for-profit organizations in 2014.
Susan holds a BS in Accounting from University of South Florida and an MBA from the University at Tampa.
Senior Impact & Outreach Manager
Brian Gunn assumed the role of Senior Engagement Manager at Measures for Justice (MFJ) in 2023, with a role to establish and manage relationships with key stakeholders, such as Community Advisory Board members and leaders of criminal justice agencies.
Brian has over a decade of experience in engagement and has honed his expertise in this field. Before joining MFJ, he worked as a Senior Strategist at CBG Strategies, where he successfully established relationships with stakeholders throughout the country, resulting in productive collaborations and positive outcomes. Additionally, Brian has worked extensively in the nonprofit sector in Alabama by implementing strategies to enhance economic vitality, increase access to equitable outcomes, and build capacity for organizations throughout the state.
Brian is committed to leveraging his engagement, communication, and leadership skills to positively impact communities across the county and in his hometown, where he serves on the Birmingham Planning Commission and as Board Chair for Offender Alumni Association.
Senior Software Engineer I
Engineering Manager II - Application
Pat Gallant joined MFJ in 2024 as an Engineering Manager. Prior to joining MFJ he has close to thirty years experience in software development across the e-learning, legal research, and legal publishing spaces. He is passionate about the craft of building software and creating solutions to help solve interesting problems.
Pat graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Computer Science and lives in the Rochester, NY area.
VP of Civic Impact
Precious Freeman joined Measures for Justice in 2022. As the Director of National Engagement, Precious’ role is to develop and execute a robust model for dialogue and engagement among stakeholders.
For over a decade, Precious has worked to engage, inform, and empower marginalized communities in the deep south. Before joining MFJ, Precious worked as the Director of Development and External Relations for Woodlawn United in Birmingham, AL. She brings experience in spearheading community initiatives through her work as the Executive Director of the G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum, President of the Dothan Community Relations Group, and creator of Blueprint City®, a grass-roots, citizen-led initiative adopted as a top priority by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Dothan, Alabama.
Precious has served as a member of the Dothan Housing Authority Commission and the National Commissioners Committee for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. She currently serves on the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity.
Senior Civic Impact Manager
Darrell Forte joined Measures For Justice in June 2024
Darrell’s role will support the continued management of relationships with key stakeholders, such as Community Advisory Boards.
Prior to joining MFJ, Darrell worked at Shipt supporting economic development and social impact partnerships on a national scale. He has previously worked in higher education serving in the Office of the President at the University of Alabama at Birmingham leading external affairs initiatives and municipal government having served as a project manager for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office.
Darrell is committed to supporting underserved communities both locally and nationally – several of Darrell’s community affiliations include serving as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Regenerate Society, Co-Chair for the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Curriculum Instructor for the City of Birmingham’s Municipal Court, and Young Alumni Board for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Software Engineer III
Jake Feerick joined the Data Engineering team at Measures for Justice as a Software Engineer in 2022. He is excited to make use of his passions for teamwork and sustainable design in this role. Prior to starting at MFJ, he spent two years developing radar analysis tools in the defense sector.
Jake graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the State University at Buffalo in 2019, where he also received a minor in Computer Science and a certificate in Data-Intensive Computing.
VP of Product & Design
Throughout her career, Dr. Gipsy Escobar has worked in the private, public, academia, and nonprofit sectors; all of which have taught her many important lessons she applies to her work in Product today. As Measure for Justice’s VP of Product and Design, she’s responsible for understanding the data needs of criminal justice agencies around three areas: quality, transparency, and community engagement. She works cross-functionally with engineers, researchers, designers, product professionals, and engagement specialists to translate these needs into solutions that improve the quality and use of data routinely collected by the system. She also provides subject matter expertise as a criminologist and researcher to ensure that the solutions MFJ develops are responsive to the complex needs of criminal justice stakeholders and follow best data practices.
As MFJ’s Director of Research and Analytics (2015-2018), Dr. Escobar incubated MFJ’s Research Team, and worked with national experts to design and validate a system of performance measurement for local criminal justice, and to develop a robust methodology to standardize the management of criminal justice data from varied sources across jurisdictions in the United States.
Dr. Escobar holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York Graduate Center and John Jay College.
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.
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.
Senior Software Engineer I
Alec joined MFJ in February 2024 as a Senior Software Engineer. He has over 5 years of experience, having worked as a Full-Stack Engineer in ecommerce and the insurance space. He’s very excited to use everything he’s learned in service of MFJ’s mission!
Before working as a programmer, Alec taught English as a Foreign Language all around the world. He attributes his bug-hunting skills to the many years he spent proofreading his students’ homework.
Alec has a B.A. in English Writing from NYU, and he graduated top-of-class from App Academy’s coding bootcamp in NYC.
Administrative Director
Megan joined Measures for Justice in January 2022.
Previously Megan worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for thirteen years. During her time there, she was a Sr. Staff Assistant, Academic Advisor, and Office Manager.
Megan earned a BFA in Illustration, and a MS in Professional Studies from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Assistant Director of Partnership Development
Katricia joined Measures for Justice in October 2022. As a Senior Engagement Manager, Katricia is responsible for managing partner opportunities, stakeholder engagement and driving long-term impact of MFJ’s tools and products in communities.
Prior to joining MFJ, Katricia worked for Recidiviz as a State Engagement Manager, where she managed relationships with state Departments of Corrections and other criminal justice stakeholders to safely and equitable reduce the prison population. She also worked for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office, helping drive strategic initiatives within the Strategy Office and Office of Peace and Policy.
Katricia has a B.S. in Marketing from Alabama A&M University and an MPA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Philanthropy Officer
Rachel Carey joined Measures for Justice in 2022 as a Donor Experience Manager on our growing Development team. Throughout her career she has managed multi-channel fundraising campaigns and events, built and scaled passive fundraising opportunities, and crafted communications to inspire and enable individuals to contribute meaningfully to nonprofit organizations.
Hailing from Casper, Wyoming, Rachel holds a B.A. in Marketing and a B.A. in French from Western Washington University. Prior to arriving in NYC, she worked as a collegiate admissions counselor for her alma mater, stewarding students and families by elevating their personal experiences and providing support. Learning about systemic issues through student voices, her passion and dedication to enacting large-scale systemic change was ignited.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking (and eating!) great food, exploring the outdoors through hiking and scuba diving, and devouring a good story. Her friends, family and colleagues would describe her as tenacious, curious, and sincere.
Director of Compliance
Sandro joined Measures for Justice in April 2022 as the IT Compliance Manager. His responsibilities include supporting all the Measure for Justice Teams in creating their strategies and processes to keep systems and data secure.
He brings 15+ years of project management, agile methodology, and internal auditing experience. Sandro earned a BS degree in Technology Marketing & Distribution from Rochester Institute of Technology and an AAS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Monroe Community College. He is a certified Project Management Professional, SAFe5 Advance Scrum Master, and SAFe5 Release Train Engineer. Sandro is also fluent in both Italian and Spanish.
Previous experience at Unisys Corp, Xerox Corp, Fidelis Care of NY, and Centene Corp. In his free time Sandro enjoys coaching youth soccer, running, cycling, and motorcycling.
Research Associate I
Camila Camps joined Measures for Justice in December 2021 after receiving her Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to her Masters degree, she also received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. As a Research Associate, Camila’s responsibilities include standardizing, cleaning, and analyzing state and local criminal justice data.
Prior to joining MFJ, Camila had the opportunity to work on many criminal justice related issues. While completing her Bachelor’s degree, she worked as a student researcher analyzing sex offender treatment data. She also interned at the U.S Probation and Pretrial Services where she gained invaluable experience working within the Criminal Justice system. Her research interests include criminal justice reform, mass incarceration, and immigration reform.
Platform Engineer II
Sem Vladyka joined the Internal DevOps team at Measures for Justice as a Platform Engineer in 2022. He is excited to make use of his automation expertise and passion for new technologies in his career path with MFJ.
Sem graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors in Computing and Information Technology in 2020.
Product Owner II
Sami joined Measures for Justice in August of 2023 as a Product Analyst II.
She graduated from St John Fisher College with a BS in Marketing but has spent the better part of the last decade as an analyst in the private sector, health care and financial industries. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of stakeholders as well as team members and being a “bridge between worlds”
When not at work Sami is an active volunteer and board member of the Walworth Lion’s club and enjoys spending time in her garden
Platform Engineer I
Meghan Bissonnette joined Measures for Justice in March 2023 as a Quality Assurance Analyst. As a member of the QA Team, she supported DevOps and platform optimization efforts. Meghan joined the DevOps/IT Team as a Platform Engineer in July 2024, where her responsibilities include updating and maintaining MFJ’s cloud infrastructure.
Meghan has been working in tech for over three years after a 10+ year career in arts and higher education. When not spending time with family or gardening, Meghan enjoys learning STEM subjects and is currently studying Mathematics and Computer Science online through the University of North Dakota.
Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
Allyssa Birth joined Measures for Justice in 2021 as a Communications and Development Strategist on our growing Communications team. Throughout her career she has managed quantitative and qualitative market research studies, worked as a brand manager in the spirits industry, and served the marketing needs of numerous clients in both the for profit and nonprofit space.
She brings over 10 years of both business to business and consumer marketing experience to the MFJ team with expertise in branding, social media and email marketing.
Senior Software Engineer III
Karl Berger joined Measures for Justice in 2022 to work with the Software Engineering team.
He brings several years of experience transforming and integrating large datasets across legal, financial, and healthcare analytics domains. Having seen the potential for population analytics to transform the healthcare industry, he is excited to join Measures for Justice on their mission to bring quality criminal justice data to the public.
Karl has a BS degree in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Staff Software Engineer I
Ryan joined MFJ in July 2020 as a Senior Web Developer. He brings 12+ years of experience designing and building user-centered web and mobile applications, and is passionate about using technology to tell stories, enable exploration, and expand understanding.
Ryan has a B.A. in Digital Media Studies and Spanish Language & Literature, with minors in Computer Science & Leadership Studies, from the University of Denver.
Director of IT & DevOps
Ryan joined Measures for Justice in 2021 as a System Administrator. His responsibilities include working with the Internal Ops team to provide site reliability, developer support and continuous monitoring, testing, and improvement of our system infrastructure. Ryan brings 9+ years of professional software development experience and has worked in embedded systems engineering in aerospace, back-end web development, and most recently in DevOps engineering and system test and release automation. Ryan now serves as the IT Manager at MFJ and oversees IT and DevOps operations, Continuous Integration and Kubernetes Cluster administration
Ryan has a B.S. in Software Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, with minor(s) in Computer Security and Psychology.
Sr. Research Associate II
Kayla joined MFJ in 2022, following 5 years with the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Monroe County Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative. As a Senior Research Associate, Kayla works with external agency partners to evaluate their data infrastructure, and to ensure data are valuable for agencies and transparent to local communities. To her projects, she brings her extensive experience building justice system datasets, from working with the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center and the Rochester Police Department’s Crime Analysis Center. Currently, Kayla is responsible for helping shape MFJ’s Policing Measurement project, and supporting the Justice Counts measurement project. She also contributes to the organization’s research agenda.
Kayla holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Niagara University, and her research interests include program evaluation, evidence-based policy, and crime analysis. In her free time – and when she is not working on her house – Kayla can be found wandering Rochester’s abundance of hiking trails, and spending time with her two pups.
Product Owner II
Originally from Manhattan, Nakeia received her Bachelor of Science in Human-Centered Computing from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Before joining MFJ, she worked at ProTranslating (Big Language Solutions), where she contributed to the development of user-focused translation software. With a strong background in agile methodologies, she emphasizes collaboration to achieve impactful outcomes.
Outside of work, Nakeia enjoys staying active with longboarding, trying new fitness routines, and perfecting her espresso-making skills.
Director of Development
D’Angelo Bailey joined Measures for Justice in June 2024 and is responsible for building and executing a robust fundraising plan for the organization. He works closely with Amy and the executive team to help the organization sustain and grow its existing philanthropic revenue portfolio as well as develop a targeted individual giving program while diversifying foundation support.
Prior to joining MFJ, D’Angelo was Assistant Director of Development at the Center for Policing Equity where he focused on growing the individual giving program, prioritizing major gifts. He managed a national portfolio of individual donors with an emphasis on California and New York.
D’Angelo received a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a BA in Psychology from Kalamazoo College.
Chief Executive Officer
Amy Bach has been the Chief Executive Officer of Measures for Justice since 2011. She founded the organization as a follow-up to her acclaimed book, Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court, which won the 2010 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. In June 2011, Echoing Green, a premier seed investor for social entrepreneurs, selected Amy as a Fellow out of 3,000 candidates worldwide to support the launch of Measures for Justice. Following that, she was named a Draper Richards Kaplan Social Entrepreneur. For her work on Ordinary Injustice, Amy received a Soros Media Fellowship, a special J. Anthony Lukas citation, and a Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard University. Amy was a Knight Foundation Journalism Fellow at Yale Law School and is a graduate of Stanford Law School. In 2012, she taught Criminal Law during the spring semester at the University of Buffalo Law School as a Visiting Professor. In 2019, she won the Academy of Criminal Justice Science’s Leadership and Innovation Award and the Charles Bronfman Prize. Amy lives in Rochester, NY, where the organization is based.
Research Coordinator
Chief Product Officer
Ron Adams joined MFJ as Chief Product Officer in 2024. Ron is a seasoned product leader with a diverse background in directing product development teams and initiatives at prominent companies such as Atlassian and Zoom, as well as co-founder and CTO of Hall.com (acquired by Atlassian).
With over 20 years of industry experience in web-based, mobile, and SaaS-based software development, Ron brings a highly collaborative, user-focused, and iterative philosophy to the product creation process. As a devotee of advancing the art of business and product management, Ron is always looking for better ways to facilitate communication, foster collaboration, and scale product teams. Ron’s approach to product management is rooted in strategic thinking, data-informed decision-making, and goal-setting to empower teams and help them achieve autonomy and operational excellence.
Ron is thrilled at the opportunity to help the MFJ team realize its mission to reshape the criminal justice system.
Senior Research Associate II
Alexandra Ackles joined MFJ in June of 2019. In her role as a Research Associate, Alexandra helped to complete MFJ’s 20×2020 initiative by cleaning and coding state court data for Indiana and Virginia. She has also completed the cleaning and coding of data from the San Francisco County DA’s office and is currently working on a project with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office to assess the effects of their 2020 $0 bail policy.
Prior to joining MFJ, Alexandra graduated from SUNY Fredonia, where she majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology with a minor in Statistics. Alexandra went on to work as a Court Services Interviewer for Pretrial Services in Rochester, NY, and as a Supervision Officer for Pretrial Services in Dallas, TX, where she gained invaluable experience within the Criminal Justice system. She also has experience working as an investigator for Monroe County Child Protective Services.