CCJ Directory

Dr. S. Rebecca Neusteter has dedicated her career to advancing equity in the criminal legal and healthcare systems. Her work spans the country. She is focused on reducing justice system contact, disparities, and collateral consequences. She works to enhance public safety, civic participation, and opportunities to support health and vitality. Rebecca currently serves as Executive Director of the University of Chicago Health Lab, where she leads a team of researchers and projects aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing health inequities.

She previously served as the Vera Institute of Justice’s founding Policing Program Director. Prior to that position, she served as Director of Research, Policy, and Planning for the New York Police Department. Rebecca has also served as Director of Criminal Justice for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation (now Arnold Ventures), Research Associate for the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, Director of Criminal Justice Programs for The Doe Fund, Senior Analyst for the New York City Office of Management and Budget, and Deputy Director of Planning for the Center for Employment Opportunities.

Rebecca currently holds several appointments, including trustee of the Youth Justice Network, a nonprofit organization that supports and brings opportunity to youth during and after their time in New York City jails; board member of the Full Frame Initiative, a nonprofit organization working to support equitable access to wellbeing; Research Advisory Board member of the Police Executive Research Forum; and Research Advisory Committee member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Rebecca holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of the Graduate Center, City University of New York, an MS in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the Milano Graduate School of the New School University, and a BA in Sociology from Chapman University.