Jennifer Kisela

Jennifer Kisela is a seasoned criminal justice professional with over 25 years of experience spanning direct practice, program implementation, and legislative policy. She began her career working directly with incarcerated individuals and community correctional programs, where she developed expertise in Evidence-Based Practices, cognitive behavioral interventions, and staff coaching. Her early work laid the foundation for a deep understanding of how research can be effectively translated into practice to improve outcomes for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

Over the course of a decade at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, Jennifer advanced from Senior Policy Analyst to Deputy Program Director, overseeing state-level Justice Reinvestment initiatives. In these roles, she collaborated with policymakers, administrators, and stakeholders across all three branches of government to create data-driven legislative and administrative recommendations that promote public safety, rehabilitation, and equity. Her work in policy implementation, strategic planning, and quality assurance has been recognized for its rigor, impact, and commitment to evidence-based decision-making.

Currently serving as Government Affairs Policy Advisor for the Washington State Department of Corrections, Jennifer applies her extensive experience to legislative policy, bill tracking, and system-wide implementation across health and corrections services. A passionate advocate for meaningful system change, she also engages in public speaking and professional training to empower staff and stakeholders to make a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve. Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University.

• Honored Listee
• Thinking for a Change Trainer
• Thinking for a Change Facilitator
• Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R)
• Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS)

• University of Cincinnati - M.S.