Juvenile Justice Institute

09/03/2026

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Maddie!

We’re excited to have Maddie joining the Juvenile Justice Institute as a graduate research assistant this semester! Maddie is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at UNO and holds two bachelor’s degrees - one in psychology and one in forensic science - from the University of Central Oklahoma. Her research interests center on victimology, particularly missing and unidentified persons and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases.

This semester, Maddie will primarily contribute to our Nebraska Juvenile Justice Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which is exploring how AI is being used across Nebraska’s juvenile justice system and how professionals can be supported in its responsible and ethical implementation. She’ll also lend her research skills to several other projects across the Institute. Maddie brings valuable experience from her work with UNO’s Victimology and Victim Studies Research Lab, where she has supported multiple research projects.

Looking ahead, Maddie plans to pursue a PhD and hopes to build a career in research that contributes to a stronger understanding of victims and victimization. When she’s not immersed in research, she loves reading and is a huge horror movie fan!

We’re so glad to have Maddie joining our team and look forward to all she’ll contribute to the Juvenile Justice Institute!

09/01/2026

Having data and knowing what to do with it are two very different things.

Our team has extensive experience working directly with courts and court data across juvenile justice and child welfare systems. We understand that administrative data can be complicated - and that understanding the system behind the numbers matters just as much as analyzing them.

Whether you're trying to identify trends, answer a specific research question, evaluate an initiative, or think through what data you should be collecting, the Juvenile Justice Institute can help.

Learn more about the Juvenile Justice Institute at juvenilejustice.unomaha.edu or contact us at [email protected]

08/28/2026

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Blaire!

We’re excited to welcome Blaire to the Juvenile Justice Institute as a graduate research assistant this semester! Blaire is a second-year master’s student in UNO’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She also earned her bachelor’s degree from UNO in psychology, with a concentration in forensic psychology and a minor in criminal justice. Her research interests include mental health, victimology, and juvenile justice, and she hopes to pursue a career as an intelligence analyst after graduation.

At the Juvenile Justice Institute, Blaire will primarily support our national study examining juvenile court judges’ experiences and perceptions of cases involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). She brings previous research experience examining youth extremism and restorative justice policies in schools. For her master’s thesis, Blaire is studying juvenile homicide victimization in metropolitan areas to better understand where and why youth are victimized and identify opportunities for prevention and policy reform.

Outside of her academic work, Blaire teaches violin and piano and is currently learning the cello!! She also enjoys hiking, Krav Maga, and archery - and recently got engaged while visiting Glacier National Park. 🎉

We’re thrilled to have Blaire’s research experience and enthusiasm on the Juvenile Justice Institute team!

08/24/2026

Welcome back, Mavericks! 🎉

Wishing all UNO students a great first day and a successful semester ahead. We’re glad to have campus buzzing again! ❤️🖤

08/21/2026

Organizations working with youth and families are tackling complicated problems - and sometimes you need additional capacity, expertise, or simply another perspective at the table.

That's where we come in.

The Juvenile Justice Institute partners with courts, state and local agencies, community organizations, researchers, and others to answer questions, evaluate programs, make better use of data, and strengthen services for youth and families.

Have a question, challenge, or project you've been thinking about?

We'd love to hear about it.

Learn more about the Juvenile Justice Institute at juvenilejustice.unomaha.edu or contact us at [email protected]

08/20/2026

Such a great turnout at Big Red Welcome today!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Juvenile Justice Institute table to say hello - our team had a blast meeting so many students!

Wishing all of our new and returning students a wonderful and successful semester.

We’re so glad to have you here! 🎉

08/18/2026

Incoming SCCJ students - come say hi! 👋

The Juvenile Justice Institute will be at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Welcome Event this Thursday, August 20th, from 2:30–4:30 p.m. in East Nebraska Hall - 4th floor.

Stop by our table to meet some members of our team, grab some candy, and learn more about internship opportunities with the Juvenile Justice Institute. We’d love to meet you and tell you a little more about the work we do!

We hope to see you there!

08/06/2026

JJI congratulates Gennesis Guzman on her new position as OPD’s new Southeast Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist! Gennesis was a participant in last years Juvenile Justice Certificate Program cohort. We are so excited to see her being recognized for her passion and skill in working with young people and making an impact in our community!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Te64vQ8AJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

✨New Southeast Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist✨

Please welcome Gennesis Guzman to OPD! She is working at the Southeast Precinct, where she will engage with neighborhood associations, coordinate with neighborhood watch groups, engage in community education through programs, and assist with recurring criminal issues in the area.

We asked Gennesis to share a little bit about herself! Here's Gennesis, in her own words:

I’m from Los Angeles, and graduated from Omaha Central High School (Go Eagles!). I attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where I studied Education and Multidisciplinary Studies with minors in Human Rights and Sociology. I also completed the Sam and Frances Fried Holocaust and Genocide Academy, earning certifications through the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Teacher Workshop and the Washington, D.C. Professional Enrichment Academy.

Serving youth, families, and the community has always been at the heart of everything I do. As an educator and former Youth & Family Engagement Specialist with the Omaha Police Department and the Boys & Girls Club, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of building strong relationships between law enforcement, schools, families, and neighborhoods. That passion inspired me to pursue the Crime Prevention Specialist position because I believe collaboration and community engagement create safer, healthier communities while helping young people and families thrive.

I’m committed to lifelong learning and professional growth. This past year, I completed the Juvenile Justice Certificate Program through the University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Juvenile Justice Institute. The program strengthened my understanding of juvenile justice and provided valuable knowledge to better serve our community. I’m also a proud alumna of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., where I continue to give back through service and involvement.

I’m excited to serve the South Omaha community and look forward to building relationships, supporting local families, and making a positive impact alongside the Omaha Police Department, my colleagues, and our community partners.

08/03/2026

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Taylor!

We're excited to welcome Taylor Bennett to the Juvenile Justice Institute as a student intern this semester! Taylor is a senior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in criminal justice with double minors in psychology and victimology and victim studies. She'll be contributing to several research initiatives across the institute, including a qualitative study examining the use of artificial intelligence across Nebraska's juvenile justice system and a national survey exploring juvenile court judges' perceptions and experiences with AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) cases.

Taylor hopes to pursue a career as a victim advocate after graduation. She is passionate about hearing people's stories and providing a helping hand whenever it's needed. She has experience with advocacy and public speaking through the Pinnacol Foundation, where she has supported efforts to increase access to medical resources in rural communities. Outside of school and work, Taylor enjoys cheering on the Chicago Bears and Denver Nuggets and works in the suites during the University of Nebraska–Lincoln football season.

07/28/2026

We're excited to celebrate Dr. Mariah Sorby on her 1-year anniversary with JJI!

Over the past year, Mariah has made meaningful contributions to JJI's research through grant writing, publications, and methodological and analytical support.

Her expertise, attention to detail, and collaborative spirit have already made a lasting impact on our team.

Thank you, Mariah, for a fantastic first year! With several exciting initiatives on the horizon, we're looking forward to all that's ahead!