Vera Institute of Justice

Dr. S. Rebecca Neusteter has dedicated her career to advancing equity in the criminal justice system. Her work has spanned the country, focusing on reducing justice system contact, disparities, and collateral consequences as well as enhancing public safety, participation, and opportunities. Rebecca served until recently as the Vera Institute of Justice's director of policing. Previously she served as director of research, policy, and planning for the NYPD, where she led the department’s efforts to redesign the police officer performance evaluation system. Prior to that position, Rebecca served as director of criminal justice for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, research associate for the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center, director of criminal justice programs for The Doe Fund, senior analyst for the NYC Office of Management and Budget, and deputy director of planning for the Center for Employment Opportunities. Rebecca holds several appointments, including trustee of Friends of Island Academy, a nonprofit organization that supports and brings opportunity to youth during and after their time in New York City jails; 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.