National Institute Of Justice Welcomes New Director, Dr. Nancy Rodriguez

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today welcomed Dr. Nancy Rodriguez as new Director for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Department's scientific research and evaluation component.

"Dr. Rodriguez brings a record of commitment to the power of knowledge in restoring balance and fairness to our criminal and juvenile justice practices," said OJP Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason. "I'm excited that the Department of Justice will be able to count on her to advance our scientific mission and help us meet our goal of a smarter and more equitable system of justice."

Nominated last year by President Obama, Dr. Rodriquez previously served as professor with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University (ASU).  Dr. Rodriguez completed her tenure as Associate Dean for Student Engagement in the College of Public Programs at ASU in 2014. She concurrently served as Executive Counselor of the American Society of Criminology.  She is a recipient of several awards for her research, including the W.E.B. DuBois Award from the Western Society of Criminology and the Coramae Richey Mann Award from the ASC Division on People of Color and Crime.  She received a B.A. from Sam Houston State University and a Ph.D. from Washington State University.

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov