Please join the Justice Information Resource Network for our annual Virtual Winter Conference, which will be held on Wednesday, February 12, and Thursday, February 13. Sessions will be held daily from 1:00 to 4:45 pm ET and consist of roundtables and presentations. The full agenda can be found below.

Download the Agenda

Virtual Winter Conference Agenda

The conference will begin on Wednesday afternoon with a short welcome from JIRN President George Shaler, followed by a roundtable on recidivism. There will also be a presentation on data quality issues in NIBRS and a roundtable on merging data.

Thursday’s agenda includes discussions around strategies for sharing criminal justice research with the public and roundtables on NIBRS and program evaluations.

Wednesday, February 12th

 

Welcome 

George, Shaler, JIRN President


1:00PM – 2:00 PM
Roundtable on Recidivism

This roundtable will explore the experiences of SACs working on recidivism projects. It will highlight their accomplishments and challenges and how they addressed these challenges in their analyses of recidivism.

Discussants: Melinda Mattingly, PhD – Iowa, Colin Grunner – New York, and Robert Orth, PhD – Pennsylvania
Moderator: Lindsay Bostwick, Ph.D., Statistician, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Reentry, Recidivism, and Special Projects Unit

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM 
Exploring Data Quality Issues in NIBRS

This presentation will focus on the challenges and issues surrounding the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), including data entry problems and policy and system limitations. We will also explore data quality checks and offer recommendations to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of crime data reporting.

Presenters: Mary Jane Parker – Georgia,  Michelle Masters, PhD – Hawaii, Matthew Kijowski – New York, and  Kaitly Rines – Ohio

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM 
Roundtable on Merging Data

This roundtable centers on the processes and strategies for linking and merging datasets, highlighting the experiences of SACs that have successfully navigated this task. Participants will exchange insights about their work, discuss their challenges, and share the solutions they developed to effectively integrate data from different sources.

Discussants: Philisa Weidlein-Crist – Delaware, Jeffrey Zuback – Maryland, Caleb Coughtry-Carpenter – Wisconsin,
David Rinderle – Wisconsin, and Christine Shulz – Wisconsin
Moderator: Keith Finlay, Ph.D., Acting Chief, Business Development Staff, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division, U.S. Census Bureau

Thursday February 13th


1:00 PM – 2:15 PM.
Breaking Through the Noise: Strategies for Sharing Criminal Justice Research with the Public

Statistical analysis centers are critical in advancing criminal justice research, but translating complex findings into actionable insights for the public can be challenging. This interactive panel will equip researchers with practical tools and strategies to enhance their dissemination of their work and make a broader impact.

Attendees will gain actionable insights and participate in discussions to workshop ideas, and refine their communication strategies. Join us to learn how to make your research more accessible, impactful, and influential!

Topics include:

    • translating research for lay audiences and tailoring your strategies to different groups;
    • developing effective products (e.g., one-pagers, op-eds, key takeaways) and leveraging dissemination avenues like websites, social media, and news outlets; and
    • engaging with media to amplify your research.

Senator Jeff Brandes, Founder & President, Florida Policy Project

Dr. Stephanie Kennedy, Policy Director, Council on Criminal Justice

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Roundtable on NIBRS

This roundtable will discuss overcoming challenges in NIBRS data collection, enhancing communication between states, and exploring the future of NIBRS.

Discussants: Paul Perrone – Hawaii, and  Kaitly Rines – Ohio
Moderator: Kimberly Martin, PhD, Statistician, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Incident-Based Statistics Unit

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Roundtable on Program Evaluation

This roundtable will discuss SAC projects related to program evaluation. The discussants will share their accomplishments and insights while also addressing current challenges.

Discussants: Jessica Reichert – Illinois, Scott Wolfe, PhD – Michigan, and Kelly Officer – Oregon
Moderator: Stephen Haas, PhD, Director, Research and Evaluation, Justice Research and Victim Services, ICF & Vice President, JIRN