Executive Team
Executive Director: Douglas Huntsinger
Douglas Huntsinger serves as Executive Director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), where he leads statewide efforts to strengthen Indiana’s justice system.
Nominated by Governor Mike Braun and approved by the Institute’s Board of Trustees in March 2025, Huntsinger directs policy development, program evaluation, and the administration of state and federal funding to improve public safety and justice outcomes across the state.
Huntsinger previously served as the Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, and as Chairman of the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder. In these roles, he oversaw the coordination of statewide strategies to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for Hoosiers living with substance use disorder. Under his leadership, Indiana achieved one of the nation’s largest year-over-year declines in fatal overdoses in 2023, a nearly 17% reduction.
General Counsel and Director of Compliance: Cynthia Forbes
Cynthia Forbes joined ICJI in March 2026 as General Counsel and Director of Compliance. Prior to this role, she served as an attorney for the Indiana State Police for 13 years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law and Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
Chief Financial Officer: Sheryll Espinas
Sheryll Espinas joined the Institute in 2022 as Chief Financial Officer. She brings extensive state financial management experience, having previously served as the controller for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and in a similar role at the Indiana Department of Education.
Director of Public Affairs and Substance Use Policy: Shelby Thomas
Shelby Thomas joined ICJI in 2025 as Director of Public Affairs and Substance Use Policy. Prior to this role, she served more than five years in the Office of the Governor as the Deputy Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, where she helped shape statewide substance use policy and coordinate cross-agency initiatives. Before entering state government, Shelby worked as a reporter covering state and local government and education.
Director of Research: Madison Knight
Madison Knight joined ICJI in 2025 as Director of Research, leading the agency's efforts to modernize data systems and strengthen research practices. Prior to ICJI, she served as Science Officer at the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, where she focused on integrating scientific and evidence-based approaches into public health and criminal justice initiatives. Madison also coordinated statewide efforts related to opioid policy. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University Indianapolis.
Division Directors
Behavioral Health: Shelby Thomas
Drug and Crime Control: Ellen Sheets
Ellen Sheets joined ICJI in 2017 and has held several roles within the agency, including Victim Services Grant Manager and member of the Regulatory Compliance Monitoring team, before being promoted to director of the Youth and Drug and Crime Control divisions. Prior to her time with ICJI, Ellen worked for the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Indiana Department of Correction. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.
Traffic Safety: Vacant
Victim Compensation: Nolan Jenkins
Nolan Jenkins joined ICJI in 2011 as a Claims Analyst and was promoted to Victim Compensation Program Director in 2015. Before his career at ICJI, Nolan spent 18 years with the Indiana Department of Transportation. He attended Indiana University before serving six years in the United States Marine Corps, and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Victim Services: Kim Lambert
Kim Lambert joined ICJI's Victim Services Division in 2027. Before her service with the Institute, she managed a variety of housing programs in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties for Oaklawn Psychiatric Center. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University South Bend.