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, criminal justice leaders, 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.
• Marquis Who's Who
• American Probation and Parole Association
• American Correctional Association
• International Criminal Justice Association
What do you attribute your success to?
My success is a direct result of my parents and mentors. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me which set the stage for my career. I have also been lucky to have several supervisors and mentors throughout my career who have focused on supporting and encouraging me to pursue work where I excel and not limiting me to my current position but supporting my transition to new roles to grow my skillsets. I would be remiss to not acknowledge the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone as being crucial as well. Taking a position with The Council of State Government Justice Center required me to relocate my family across the country. While incredibly scary, this change allowed me to grow personally and professionally in ways I never could have achieved otherwise. Experiencing different cultures and situations helps you to understand multiple perspectives. This makes you a better person, supervisor, leader, and policy-maker.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the best advice I have received as a leader is to lead with empathy and always assume positive intent by colleagues. It can be easy to focus on the work and forget about the human aspect of colleagues. Everyone is fighting a battle that may not always be known and focusing on the person improves relationships and workplace satisfaction which ultimately leads to better work products and outcomes. My other favorite advice is that smiles are contagious. The energy and attitude you bring to work rubs off on others and sets the stage for the team.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage them to focus on building a strong foundation in best practices and gaining a deep understanding of systems. Equally important is remaining open to learning from others—mentors, colleagues, and peers alike—as their insights can be invaluable in shaping both your skills and your career trajectory.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in the criminal justice space are public misperceptions on what deters crime and brings about meaningful change for people convicted of crimes which can influence how elected officials target system improvements. Community voices have the opportunity to bring about positive system change but can also set a system back from research proven strategies when misperceptions are pushed by local and national media.
Locations
Washington State Department of Corrections
Spanaway, WA 98387