Breaking Barriers: Improving Prediction and Responsiveness for Native American Populations

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Sheena L. Gilbert is a PhD Candidate in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha and an American Society of Criminology Ruth D. Peterson Fellow. She is also a citizen of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe and identifies as an Indigenous Criminologist. Her research focuses on gender-based violence, Indigenous crime and victimization, including Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), victimization in underserved populations, and campus/university sexual violence. She recently started working for the National Institute of Justice in the Office of Violence, and Victim Prevention overseeing the tribal crime, justice, and victimization portfolio. She has published in peer-reviewed academic journals including Violence and Victims, Crime & Delinquency, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Feminist Criminology, and Race and Justice.

Zachary Hamilton, Ph.D. is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Associate Director of the Nebraska Center for Justice Research at the University of Nebraska - Omaha. His research centers on innovation in risk and needs assessment development. Specifically, Dr. Hamilton works directly with adult corrections and juvenile justice agencies to create assessments that are optimized for their agency’s needs. These state-of-the art assessment tools are administered in dozens of states, hundreds of times a day, assisting correctional practitioners by guiding the provision of interventions and programming to improve the lives of those incarcerated and in the community. Specifically, he has developed the Static Risk Offender Needs Guide – Revised (STRONG-R) for adult correctional populations, the Modified Positive Achievement Change Tool (MPACT) for youth, and working with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) he developed the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs (PATTERN) to be used as part of the First Step Act (FSA) by identifying non-violent individuals eligible for early release. He has published over 50 journal articles, chapters, and books on risk and needs assessment, evidence-based practices, and correctional program efficacy. His work in developing risk-needs assessments were recently recognized by the American Society of Criminology, awarding him the 2023 Differential Intervention Award.

As a Business Development Representative, JD serves as a key liaison between the Sales and Product teams, specializing in breaking down complex decision support frameworks for clients. His focus is on making Vant4ge's software easy to understand, while ensuring it meets the specific needs of each agency. JD is passionate about creating responsive and equitable assessment tools. During the implementation process, he works closely with agencies to configure the platform to align with their jurisdictional practices. JD is an active member of several correctional organizations, including APPA, CLA, and ACA, which keeps him connected to the latest industry trends. With a strong background in Customer Relationship Management and Business Intelligence platforms, he ensures clients not only understand the technology but also maximize its value. Danny’s commitment to equity in the justice system drives his work in making risk and needs assessments more effective and culturally responsive.