Remembering our Board President and Longtime Colleague George Shaler
George played an integral role in the continued success of the Justice Information Resource Network (JIRN), leading with gentle guidance and firm convictions. His decades of close involvement with the organization, whether through various positions on our board or as an engaged member, helped ensure that JIRN upheld the highest professional standards and remained responsive to the needs of applied researchers.
George will be remembered for his generous spirit, kindness, and strong ethical principles. To JIRN staff and board members, he was not only a leader, but also a trusted colleague, mentor, and friend.
Beyond his service to JIRN, George was a longtime member of the Maine Statistical Analysis Center at the Catherine Cutler Institute, University of Southern Maine. He served as director from 2013 to 2023, leading efforts to produce the data and research that informed criminal justice policy in the state of Maine. During his tenure, he co-authored and edited numerous reports, several of which received the Douglas Yearwood National Publication Award. After stepping down as director, he continued to serve as a senior research consultant and as a member of the university’s Institutional Review Board.
At the request of his family, colleagues may honor George’s memory through donations to The Children’s Center, 721 Stevens Avenue Portland, Maine 04103, Maine Women’s Lobby, 1 Weston Court Suite 203A, Augusta, Maine 04330. or the Eastern Trail Alliance, PO Box 250, Saco, ME 04072.
George’s contributions to JIRN, the field of criminal justice research, and the broader community will have a lasting impact. He will be deeply missed.
