Criminal justice research, policy analysis, and program evaluation
Evidence-based assessments for agencies, nonprofits, and legal teams
Evidence-based reports and policy briefs including actionable recommendations grounded in data
Legal and sentencing disparity consultation
Consultations for legal strategy (includes strategy consultations as an expert as well as for other experts)
Document review, declarations, and expert testimony
Case-focused research support and literature synthesis
Racial Justice Act (RJA) analysis and statistical review
Data analysis and research design
Survey development, qualitative interviews, and statistical analysis
Translation of complex findings into accessible insights
Mixed-method research and analytical expertise
Quantitative analysis including summary statistics, regression modeling, disparity analysis, and statistical testing for significance and effect size
Qualitative analysis of interviews, case records, online content, and behavioral patterns using thematic, contextual, and linguistic approaches
Integration of historical, legal, and social context to identify trends, patterns, and evidence-based insights across complex justice issues
Professional training and technical assistance
Customized workshops for practitioners and organizations
Research methods, data literacy, and policy implementation support
External Grants as PI/Co-PI (Total: $317,658)
3. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) FY 2023. (Funding Period: 2025 – 2028). Bureau of Justice Assistance. United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California (USAO-CDCA), Research Partner Subaward (Pass through SANDAG). Investigators: Reveka V. Shteynberg (PI) and Nerea Marteache (Co-PI); G. Bichler, A. Giuffre, S. Fujita, and J. Reitzel, S. Wu. Original Award # 15PBJA-23-GG-02435-GUNP. Total Funded: $78,249.
2. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) FY 2022. (Funding Period: 2024 – 2027). Bureau of Justice Assistance. United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California (USAO-CDCA), Research Partner Subaward (Pass through SANDAG). Investigators: Reveka V. Shteynberg (PI), Nerea Marteache (Co-PI), and G. Bichler (Co-PI); A. Giuffre, S. Fujita, and J. Reitzel. Original Award #s 15PBJA-22-GG-00707-GUNP. Total Funded: $89,415
1. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) FY 2021. (Funding Period: 2024 – 2026). Bureau of Justice Assistance. United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California (USAO-CDCA), Research Partner Subaward (Pass through SANDAG). Investigators: Gisela Bichler (PI) and Reveka V. Shteynberg (Co-PI); Andrea Giuffre, Shuryo Fujita. Original Award #s 15PBJA-21-GG-03003-GUNP. Total Funded: $149,994
Project: This project exames Covid-19 and the courts. Specifically, how has the pandemic altered court processes and outcomes, as well as the work environments, practices, and decisions of people who work in the courts?
Status:
Recruitment for phase I of this study is complete and papers are currently being drafted: Surveying court practitioners working in criminal, civil, family, juvenile, appellate, and other courts about the impact of covid in the first year of the pandemic (March 2020 through March 2021):
Eligible participants: judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, civil attorneys, appellate attorneys, officers in juvenile court, court administrator, tech or data administrator, or state or local level administrator, juvenile counselor, juvenile caseworker or probation officer in juvenile court, social worker or non-attorney representative for a child in family court.
Recruitment for phase II will begin in winter 2026: If you took part in phase I (or meet the phase I criteria) and are interested in being a part of a focus group (or an individual interview), please reach out to me by email (reveka.shteynberg@csusb.edu) to be added to the list of future prospective participants.
Collaboration: This project is a collaboration with Dr. Kirstin Morgan (Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University)
Project: This paper examines public defense as an (overlooked and underutilized) public safety resource through an in-depth case study of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.
Status: Paper is currently being drafted. An executive summary will be available for review before dissemination. Please email for a preprint copy if interested in either.
Racial Justice Act Data and Research Consortium (RJA DRC)
Position: RJA DRC Member and Ready Response Office Hours Consultant
Duties/Description:
I provide real-time consultation to attorneys during the Ready Response Office Hours, with support ranging from addressing foundational data and research questions to advising on complex analyses and providing additional preparation to expert witnesses for RJA cases.
I also co-lead the development and coordination of data research protocols for the RJA Data and Research Constortium working with a team of researchers. My drafted protocols include (1) Understanding and Measuring Disparity (i.e., understanding and interpreting relevant statistics and statistical jargon, including relative risk vs absolute risk vs odds ratios vs rate ratios in RJA cases (when to use each, and how to interpret them); flags common misunderstanding and relevant formulas and RJA use cases); (2) Identifying "Statistical" Factors in RJA Statistical Evidence (i.e., explains what 'ruling out chance' meansin RJA cases and how courts and experts determine random variation; breaks down essential statistical concepts using RJA-relevant examples, such as probability, population vs sample size, sampling, causality, etc.; and shows how to interpret disaprity and assess whether they are meaningful, highlighting common pitfalls and how to evaluate them).
RJA DRC Website: Coming Soon!
Foster Youth Covid-19 Impact Report (2020)
Position: Research Consultant (Unpaid Consulting/Volunteer)
Client: Foster Advocates
Duties/Description: I partnered with Foster Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to foster advocacy, policy change, and community organizing. I assisted them with a project examining the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on foster youth across Minnesota, resulting in an impact report that summarizes the results of a survey and focus groups and provides practical recommendations for policy and practice. The Foster Youth Covid-19 Impact Report, which has the first state-specific data showing the impact of COVID-19 on foster youth, provided the data needed for Foster Advocates to advocate for COVID-19 support funds for impacted fosters. The nonprofit organization has been able to use the data for critical advocacy and to secure CARES funding from Hennepin County, Minnesota. The funding has provided $1500 payments to 120 impacted Foster youth, focusing on those who just aged out through age 26.
Report: Click Here
Faculty Highlight: Click Here
Feature Story: Click Here
Cayuga County's Proposal for the Second Counsel at First Appearance Grant (2017)
Position: Grant-Writer and CAFA Consultant
Client: Cayuga County Assigned Counsel Program
Duties: Assisted with designing the delivery of CAFA, calculated the budget, drafted the grant application
RFP Funding Agency: NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services
Amount Requested: $651,156.30 (full amount awarded)
Stereotypes and Deadly Force Decision-Making by Law Enforcement (2014)
Position: Research Consultant
Client: Dr. Mark Chaires (Former Schenectady County Chief of Police)
Duties: Research design consultation; participant recruitment; demonstrating proper firearm equipment use to lay citizen participants; setting up and running research study utilizing Firearm Training Simulation (FATS) equipment
Criminal Justice Spanish Certificate Program (2020 - 2023)
Position: Interdisciplinary CSUSB Sub Committee Member (duties: providing advisement for textbook topics, authentic material selection, curriculum implementation, course offerings, as well as assisting with community outreach and the development of promotional materials, project website, and evaluations).
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education's Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program (UISFL)
Grant's Project Title: Spanish Language Proficiency and International Experience for Criminal Justice Professionals
PIs/Co-Directors: Dr. Carmen Jany, Dr. Nerea Marteache Solans, & Dr. Maria Mayberry
Access the Free CJ Spanish 2261 & 2262, 3061, and 4401 & 4402 Textbooks and Syllabi here.
Plea Bargaining: Court Observations & Interviews in Two Upstate NY Counties (2016 - 2019)
Position: Sole/Lead Researcher
Funding Agency: The National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant's Project Title: Rationales Underlying and Shaping Plea Decision-Making
PI: Reveka V. Shteynberg (University at Albany, SUNY); Faculty Co-PI: Alissa Pollitz Worden (University at Albany, SUNY)
Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) Project (2015 - 2021)
Position: Senior Research Assistant & Research Intern Supervisor, Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, University at Albany, SUNY
Funding Agency: The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Grant's Project Title: "Early Intervention by Counsel: A Multi-Site Evaluation of the Presence of Counsel at a Defendants First Appearance in Court"
PI: Dr. Alissa Pollitz Worden (University at Albany, SUNY); Co-PI: Dr. Andrew L.B. Davies (New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services).
The Westchester County Family Court Assigned Counsel Plan Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study (2017 - Present)
Position: Research Analyst, The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety
Funding Agency: The New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services through a grant to the Westchester Legal Aid Society
Grant's Project Title: Westchester Legal Aid
PI: Alissa Pollitz Worden (The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety)
Police Interactions with Victims of Violence (2018 - Present)
Position: Research Analyst, The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety
Funding Agency: The National Institute of Justice
Grant's Project Title: Police Interactions with Victims of Violence
PI: Dr. Robert E. Worden and Dr. Sarah J. McLean (The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety)
Supervisory Coaching, Body Worn Cameras, and Police Performance (2018 - Present)
Position: Research Analyst, The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety
Funding Agency: The Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Grant's Project Title: Supervisory Coaching of Law Enforcement Project
PI: Dr. Robert E. Worden and Dr. Sarah J. McLean (The John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety)
Yes Means Yes: The Practicality of University-Based Affirmative Consent Legislation (2015)
Position: Lead/Sole Researcher
Funding Agency: Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund Award, University at Albany, SUNY
Grant Project Title: Yes Means Yes: The Practicality of University-Based Affirmative Consent Legislation
PI: Reveka V. Shteynberg
Understanding Guilty Pleas (2014)
Position: Graduate Research Assistant, University at Albany, SUNY
Funding Agency: The National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant's Project Title: Research Coordination Network (RCN): Understanding Guilty Pleas
PI: Dr. Shawn D. Bushway (University at Albany, SUNY) & Co-PIs: Dr. Allison D. Redlich (George Mason University), Dr. Brian D. Johnson (University of Maryland - College Park), Dr. Anne M. Piehl (Rutgers University)
Juvenile and Young Adult Plea Decision-Making (2011 - 2014)
Position: Graduate Research Assistant and Research Intern Supervisor
Funding Agency: The National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant's Project Title: Creating and Transferring Knowledge on Guilty Pleas
PI: Dr. Allison D. Redlich (University at Albany, SUNY)
Research Lab Project Director, Modeling Decision-Making in the Legal System (MoDiLS) Lab, University at Albany, SUNY (2011-2014); Principal Supervisor: Dr. Allison D. Redlich (University at Albany, SUNY)
Research Analyst, Control Risks Group, Los Angeles, CA (Securities and Investigation Firm) (2011)
Research Assistant/Intern, Hennington & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA (Trial and Jury Consultation Division & Diversity and Leadership Consultation Division) (2010)