The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) is the State planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety and victim services. ICJI is designated as the State Administering Agency for distribution of federal funds, and as the State Statistical Analysis Center for research.
Further, ICJI is responsible for coordinating and collaborating with local, state and federal entities to identify, assess, plan, resource and evaluate new and emerging issues facing the criminal justice and public safety spectrum. ICJI works with local, state, and federal entities to evaluate programs associated with: prevention, detection & solution of crimes; law enforcement and criminal/juvenile justice, in an effort to improve and coordinate all aspects of law enforcement and criminal/juvenile justice.
In addition, ICJI works to develop new methods for the prevention & reduction of crime, while stimulating research & compiling and analyzing information/data for dissemination to decision makers.
Executive Team
Executive Director: Devon McDonald
Devon has served with ICJI since 2012, where he began his service as the Victim Compensation Supervisor and General Counsel. Devon received his BS in Criminal Justice from Indiana University of Indianapolis and his Juris Doctorate from the IU McKinney School of Law. Prior to entering law school, Devon served his country in the US Army where he earned multiple awards for outstanding achievement.
Chief of Staff: Jade Palin
Jade previously served as Victim Services Division Director, leading a team responsible for distributing over $60 million in grant funding each year. Her prior work history was in social service programming, within both the public and private sector. Jade specializes in grant writing, quality assurance and personnel management. Jade’s greatest joy is in seeing the positive impact strength-based social service programming can have in the lives of others.
General Counsel & Director of Regulatory Affairs: Natalie Huffman
Natalie joined ICJI in October 2019 after five years of providing legal guidance to various state agencies. Most recently, she served as Deputy General Counsel for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Previously, Natalie was a staff attorney for the Indiana Gaming Commission and clerked for the Marion Superior Court. She received her Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Indianapolis.
Communications Director: Ben Gavelek
Ben joined ICJI in October 2019 with seven years of communications and marketing experience. Previously, he served as the communications director for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and, prior to that, deputy communications director for the Indiana House of Representatives, Republican Caucus. Ben graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and served six years in the Indiana Army National Guard in Indianapolis.
Division Directors
Behavioral Health: Michael Ross
Michael Ross joins ICJI from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) within the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, where he managed $10+ million in evidence-based programs and led efforts related to disaster resilience, public-safety mental health, serious mental illness and co-occurring issues. In his previous position with DMHA, Ross oversaw the training, compliance and clinical direction of the Recovery Works program, which provides support services to criminal justice-involved individuals without insurance coverage. Ross is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Master of Social Work in Mental Health and Addiction and Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Indiana University. For the last two years, he has taught courses for IU’s School of Social Work and supervised practicum students in both short- and long-term placements.
Drug and Crime Control: Andrew Rodeghero
Andrew has served with the Institute since 2013. Prior to joining ICJI in 2013, Andrew worked within the Indiana Department of Correction’s Division of Youth Services, serving as a Psychiatric Social Services Specialist. Andrew received both his BA in Criminal Justice & Criminology and his MPA, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, from Ball State University. While in graduate school, Andrew served as a graduate assistant within the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology and was the recipient of the Department’s 2011 Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Further, Andrew had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center College Internship Program in Glynco, GA, and spent time volunteering as a Reserve Sheriff Deputy for Wayne County, IN. When not serving the citizens of Indiana, Andrew enjoys spending time with family and engaging in outdoor recreational activities.
Fiscal: Joshua Potter
Joshua joined ICJI in August 2020. For the past three years, he served as the Controller for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. His career in public service also includes three years as a Public Safety Analyst at the State Budget Agency and eight years with the FSSA Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services in various roles. Joshua has a Bachelor’s in Business Management. He and his wife, Katie, spend their free time on their farm in Hope.
Research: Christine Reynolds
Prior to being named Division Director, Christine Reynolds served with ICJI’s Research Division, starting in 2007. As Research Associate, Reynolds assisted with strategic planning, developed research databases, created survey methods, interpreted complex data, prepared research reports, assisted in writing federal grant applications, reviewed grant applications, performed project evaluations, led training sessions and created performance-measure reporting forms. She holds a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Traffic Safety: Robert Duckworth
Robert joined ICJI in November 2018 after serving 18 years as a Deputy Sheriff, including more than 13 years in Decatur County, attaining the rank of Captain. He obtained over $3.6 million in grant funding for Decatur County, including emergency-response equipment and a $1 million communications site. Robert led the School Resource Officer program at Decatur County Community Schools, which was recognized by news media and a national expert as a model for other Indiana schools. In 2016, ICJI appointed him as State Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program Coordinator. A DRE and DRE instructor since 2006 and a Child Passenger Safety technician and instructor since 2008, traffic-safety programs sustained themselves as a significant part of Robert’s enforcement career, and he brings experience with these Traffic Safety Division core programs.
Victim Services: Kim Lambert
Prior to joining ICJI’s Victim Services Division in 2017, Kim managed a variety of housing programs in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties for the Oaklawn Psychiatric Center. She received a BA in Psychology from Indiana University South Bend.
Board of Trustees
The ICJI Board of Trustees last met on Friday, September 11, 2020. Please check back again for information on future meetings.
The following list includes the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Board of Trustees.
- Troy Bacon- Frankfort Police Department
- John Boyd - LaPorte County Sheriff
- Doug Carter - Superintendent, Indiana State Police
- Rob Carter - Commissioner, Indiana Department of Correction
- Bernice Corley - Executive Director, Indiana Public Defender Council
- Darrin Dolehanty – Judge, Wayne Superior Court
- Justin Forkner – Chief Administrative Officer of the Indiana Supreme Court
- Curtis Hill - Office of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill
- Rebecca Humphrey - Tippecanoe County Youth Services
- Sam Hyer - Office of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb
- Cory Martin – Executive Director, Indiana State Police Alliance
- Wendy McNamara - Indiana State Representative
- Jim Merritt – Indiana State Senator
- Chris Naylor - Executive Director, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council
- Stephen Owens – State Public Defender
- Mark Stuaan - Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
- AmyMarie Travis – Judge, Jackson County Superior Court
- Andrea Trevino – Judge, Allen Superior Court
Click here to view the ICJI Board of Trustees electronic meeting policy.