Douglas Yearwood Awards

The Douglas Yearwood National Publication Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of Statistical Analysis Centers in applying empirical analysis to criminal justice policymaking in the states. There are three categories: Statistical/Management report, Research/Policy Analysis report, and Dashboards/Data Visualization. Each category features two awards based on staff size: small SACs with fewer than five full-time staff members and large SACs with five or more full-time staff members.

In 1986 JRSA established the National Publication Awards as the Phillip Hoke Awards in memory of the first Louisiana SAC director and one of the founders of JRSA. In 2012 the award was renamed in memory of longtime North Carolina SAC Director and former JRSA President Douglas Yearwood.

Doug made countless contributions to the SAC community and is sorely missed as a friend and colleague by all who knew him over the years. He became SAC Director in 1998 and served JRSA in numerous ways. He was elected to every office on the Executive Committee, including President and served on several committees. He was invariably helpful to other SACs and always willing to pitch-in. Under his leadership, the North Carolina SAC served as a model for the role SACs can play in state government.

Prior to becoming SAC Director, Doug worked as an information systems planner and social research associate with the Governor’s Crime Commission. He held research positions with the state Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and was an advanced certified law enforcement planner through the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners. In addition to SAC-related publications, Doug published several articles, book reviews and co-authored a book, Effective Program Practices for At-Risk Youth: A Continuum of Community-Based Programs. He received a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina Wesleyan College and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University.

2025 Award Winners

Statistical/Management

Reports in this category present statistical data that identify and describe one or more justice-related issues. This type of report usually includes tables and graphs, with some text that explains and summarizes the data depicted.

Large SAC Category

Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center

Research/Policy Analysis

Reports in this category pose one or more specific research or evaluation questions and typically employ a specific research design to address the issues raised. They usually involve the collection and analysis of data (either quantitative or qualitative), summarize findings, and offer conclusions and recommendations

Large SAC Category

Wisconsin Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis

Dashboards/Data Visualization

Dashboards/Data Visualization in this category effectively communicates complex information in a clear, accessible, and actionable way. The key qualities that make for a strong dashboard or visualization include: a clear purpose, effective design, relevance and context, thoughtful visual elements, data integrity, and usability.

Large SAC Category

New Jersey Office of Justice Data

view previous award winners