Ryan Spohn

Ryan Spohn is the Director of the Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR) within the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He specializes in applied research and evaluation to improve juvenile justice, criminal justice, and corrections systems in Nebraska. Dr. Spohn holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Iowa and has extensive experience collaborating with governmental agencies like the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Education:

• Ph.D., Sociology, University of Iowa

Research Interests:

His work focuses on victimization impacts on behavioral health, program evaluation of criminal justice initiatives, corrections policy, and reentry programs. He emphasizes translating research into actionable strategies for systemic improvement, particularly in addressing disparities and enhancing program efficacy.

Key Projects and Awards:

• Leads NCJR, conducting statewide evaluations to optimize justice system performance.
• Fellow of the BJA Innovations Suite Research-Practitioner Academy and Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.
• Consultant for BJA, contributing to evidence-based policy development.

Advising and Grants:

Spohn has guided initiatives like the Youth Impact! Program and evaluated vocational training efficacy for formerly incarcerated individuals. His work includes analyzing racial disparities in Nebraska’s criminal system and trauma impacts on justice-involved populations.

Labs/Teams:

Directs NCJR, a hub for empirical research on justice reform, with a focus on Nebraska-specific challenges and solutions.