Advancing Data in Corrections tools and services are developed with guidance from the Correctional Research Leaders Advisory Council:
Andy Barbee
Andy Barbee is the director of strategic initiatives and modernization for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). He oversees a team of data analysts and other key staff that provide information and data that guide operational and policy decisions for TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier and other agency leaders. He has deep experience helping leaders better understand and—when necessary—change approaches and policies both within corrections and in the larger criminal justice system. Barbee has over 25 years of significant experience in the field of governmental research and data analyses, 10 of which have been with The Council of State Governments Justice Center, where he served as research director. Barbee holds a BA in criminal justice from St. Edwards University and an MA in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.
David Edwards
David Edwards is the director of research, planning, and process improvement for the Missouri Department of Corrections. He oversees data generation and analysis that support data-driven decision-making, leads strategic planning functions, evaluates program performance, and oversees research conducted by or with the department. Previously, he was the director of administrative analysis for the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Edwards holds a BA in psychology and public policy analysis and an MA in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Sarah Fineran
Sarah Fineran is the research director for the Iowa Department of Corrections. She oversees research and data analytics and conducts policy analysis, quantitative and qualitative research, and validation studies. Previously, Fineran was a research coordinator at the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning/Iowa Statistical Analysis Center. She is also an adjunct professor at two local colleges, teaching courses in sociology, criminal justice, social science statistics, and social science research methods. Fineran received a BA in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice at Iowa State University and an MA in criminology from the University of Northern Iowa.
Dr. Erin Harbinson
Dr. Erin Harbinson is the executive director of the Hawai’i Criminal Justice Research Institute. Her office assists the state with research on the criminal justice system and she oversees the creation of a centralized pretrial database that will build research capacity for reporting. She has published research on parole, corrections, risk assessment, white-collar crime, and cybercrime. Previously, Dr. Harbinson was a research scholar for the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Minnesota Law School where she led projects studying community corrections. Dr. Harbinson also worked for The Council of State Governments Justice Center guiding technical assistance for states implementing Justice Reinvestment legislation and for the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute conducting trainings on risk assessment and evaluating correctional programs. She received a BA from the University of Arizona and a PhD in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Nick Powell
Dr. Nick Powell is the strategic planning and analysis director for the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS). He oversees the agency’s strategic plan, research agenda, implementation of interagency initiatives, and associated performance measures to effectively communicate the strategic direction of the agency and ensure alignment with best and next practices. Dr. Powell has served the State of Georgia since 2009 and has worked at the Department of Community Supervision since its inception in 2015. Prior to his career with DCS, he worked at the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections. Dr. Powell is a POST-Certified Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Facilitator. He holds a BS in criminology from the University of West Georgia, an MA in public administration from Columbus State University, and a PhD in sociology from Georgia State University.