Reforming the Juvenile Justice System: Be The Change, Preliminary Edition

Anne Hobbs, J.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the Juvenile Justice Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she also serves as a research faculty member and licensed attorney. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law, and a B.A. in English from the University of San Francisco. Her work focuses on juvenile justice reform, legal systems, and social inequality, with particular emphasis on reentry policy, discrimination law, and restorative justice practices. Hobbs has experience in both research and applied policy work, and her research and professional efforts center on improving justice system outcomes for youth, reducing disparities, and strengthening community-based approaches to rehabilitation and support.

Monica has over twenty years of experience in juvenile justice direct service, non-profit and government positions. She has worked extensively with grants, community planning, training, and program implementation. Her most recent position was the Director of Juvenile Court Services for the Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation. In this leadership role she collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to develop policy, training, services and oversee the statewide implementation of the nationally recognized Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative through the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Monica has served on numerous state juvenile justice committees and is a Leadership Lincoln Alumni. She has traveled extensively and has presented at two international juvenile justice conferences.