The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) is the state planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety and victim services. The institute develops long-range strategies for the effective administration of Indiana's criminal and juvenile justice systems and administers state and federal funds to carry out these strategies.
Through the use of evidence-based decision-making, ICJI works to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system, from call for service through post-conviction. The agency accomplishes this by bringing together key leaders from the criminal justice system at the state, local, and national levels to identify critical issues facing Indiana. The agency evaluates policies, programs, and legislation designed to address these issues. ICJI is designated as the State Administering Agency for distribution of federal funds, and as the State Statistical Analysis Center for research.
ICJI is an equal-opportunity employer. Click here to view our Equal Employment Opportunity Utilization Report or here to read the policy.
Executive Team
Executive Director: Devon McDonald
Devon has served with ICJI since 2012, where he began his service as the Victim Compensation Supervisor and General Counsel. Devon received his BS in Criminal Justice from Indiana University of Indianapolis and his Juris Doctorate from the IU McKinney School of Law. Before entering law school, Devon served his country in the US Army where he earned multiple awards for outstanding achievement.
Chief of Staff: Jade Palin
Jade previously served as Victim Services Division Director, leading a team responsible for distributing over $60 million in grant funding each year. Her prior work history was in social service programming, within both the public and private sector. Jade specializes in grant writing, quality assurance and personnel management. Jade’s greatest joy is in seeing the positive impact strength-based social service programming can have in the lives of others.
General Counsel & Director of Regulatory Affairs: Natalie Huffman
Natalie joined ICJI in October 2019 after five years of providing legal guidance to various state agencies. Most recently, she served as Deputy General Counsel for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Previously, Natalie was a staff attorney for the Indiana Gaming Commission and clerked for the Marion Superior Court. She received her Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Indianapolis.
Chief Financial Officer: Sheryll Espinas
Sheryll joined ICJI in 2022 as the agency's Chief Financial Officer. Before that, she served as the controller for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, after working in a similar capacity for the Indiana Department of Education.
Communications Director: Jacob Burbrink
Jacob joined ICJI in 2023 after more than eight years of experience in Indiana's newsrooms in a variety of positions. His prior work surrounded visualizing concepts and breaking down complex information to make it comprehensible. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Ball State University.
Division Directors
Behavioral Health: Michael Ross
Michael Ross is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with expertise in the treatment of traumatic stress injury. Before coming to ICJI Michael served as a leading voice in the integration of behavioral health into healthcare coalitions and the Director of Disaster Mental Health for the State of Indiana. Michael holds a Master of Social Work in Mental Health and Addiction and Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Indiana University. Michael Ross is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Social Psychology with a focus in cyberpsychology.
Drug and Crime Control: Leann Jaggers
Leann started with ICJI in September 2016 as a Program Manager and was later promoted to Drug and Crime Control Division Director in May of 2022. Before joining the agency, Leann worked for the State Budget Agency for two years and the Department of Children Services for 5 years. She received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Harrison College.
Research: Christine Reynolds
Prior to being named Division Director, Christine Reynolds served with ICJI’s Research Division, starting in 2007. As Research Associate, Christine assisted with strategic planning, developed research databases, created survey methods, interpreted complex data, prepared research reports, assisted in writing federal grant applications, reviewed grant applications, performed project evaluations, led training sessions and created performance-measure reporting forms. She holds a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Traffic Safety: James Bryan
James Bryan joined ICJI in 2023 as the Traffic Safety Director. Before joining ICJI he worked as an attorney. James has degrees from Indiana University, Indiana State University, and Marian College.
Victim Compensation: Nolan Jenkins
Nolan started with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute in February of 2011 as a Claims Analyst and was later promoted to Victim Compensation Program Director in December of 2015. Before joining ICJI, Nolan worked for the Indiana Department of Transportation for 18 years. He attended Indiana University, but after a few years, left to serve in the US Marine Corps. After serving for six years, Nolan went back to school and earned a B.S. in Business Administration at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Victim Services: Kim Lambert
Before joining ICJI’s Victim Services Division in 2017, Kim managed a variety of housing programs in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties for the Oaklawn Psychiatric Center. She received a BA in Psychology from Indiana University South Bend.
CJI Strategic Plan
On behalf of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, we are pleased to present the agency’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, which reflects on ICJI’s previous plan and to update for the ensuing three years of agency activity.
Board of Trustees
ICJI is governed by a 16-member Board of Trustees representing every area of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice system. The board evaluates and disseminates information concerning the cost and effectiveness of criminal and juvenile justice programs. It also promotes effective coordination and cooperation for the administration of the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Finally, the board establishes plans for criminal justice systems, juvenile justice systems, and victim services, and makes recommendations concerning their implementation. The board composition is determined by Indiana Code.
Members currently serving on the board include:
- AmyMarie Travis - Judge, Jackson County Superior Court
- Bernice Corley - Executive Director, Indiana Public Defender Council
- Chris Naylor - Executive Director, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council
- Cory Martin - Executive Director, Indiana State Police Alliance
- Darrin Dolehanty - Judge, Wayne Superior Court
- Doug Carter - Superintendent, Indiana State Police
- Jeffrey Balon - Sheriff, Porter County
- John Boyd - LaPorte County Sheriff
- Justin Forkner - Chief Administrative Officer of the Indiana Supreme Court
- Mark Stuaan - Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
- Rebecca Humphrey - Tippecanoe County Youth Services
- Christina Reagle - Commissioner, Indiana Department of Correction
- Rachel Ehlich - Office of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb
- Amy Karozos - State Public Defender
- Lori Torres - Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita
- Kyle Prewitt – Chief, Plainfield PD
- Wendy McNamara - Indiana State Representative* (nonvoting advisor)
Public Meetings
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Board of Trustees holds quarterly meetings in March, June, September and December every year. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be also available via WebEx or by phone.
Read the ICJI Board of Trustees electronic meeting policy here.
Public Records Request
To request records from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, please use the link below.