Our team is built on individuals with various backgrounds in the criminal justice field.

Dr. Kelvin L. Banks is an Associate Director with the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP). He leads training, technical assistance, facilitation, and strategic planning initiatives that help jurisdictions strengthen justice system practices and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Dr. Banks leads CEPP’s work to strengthen court services in Alachua County, Florida, and supports jurisdictions implementing domestic violence and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) system improvements, including efforts to advance survivor-centered practices, stakeholder collaboration, and system alignment under Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act. Through his work, he partners with pretrial agency leaders and system stakeholders to develop practical, evidence-informed strategies that promote effective, sustainable change.

Dr. Banks was formerly the Director of Pretrial Services for Harris County, Texas, and for the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan in Detroit (Wayne County), and he served for many years as a Clinical Probation Officer. He was formerly an adjunct faculty member for Baker College, where he developed and taught courses in criminal justice, human services, and psychology. Dr. Banks was inducted into Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame in 2015 for his distinguished efforts in the field. He holds a doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California, a master’s in social work from Wayne State University, a master’s in organizational management from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.