Avery Pankratz, M.A., is a research associate II at Advocates for Human Potential (AHP). Prior to joining AHP, Ms. Pankratz lived and worked in Chicago, where she gained extensive research experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system’s innerworkings in a variety of environments. She worked at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in the Sheriff’s Justice Institute, where her focus was on the release of incarcerated individuals with severe medical and psychological histories. Additionally, she assisted on a research project aimed at eliminating cash bail in Illinois, a policy that will be enacted in 2023. Ms. Pankratz also worked in Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy, and Practice as a research assistant, collaborating closely with state research agencies, nonprofit organizations, and grant funders to answer questions about crime trends statewide, within specific counties, and among special populations. Through this position, she gained experience in presenting research findings, performing a variety of statistical tests, and conducting research studies with human participants. Ms. Pankratz’s research focuses have included recidivism, program development, and the psychological crossover between drug dependency and crime. She earned her M.A. in criminal justice and criminology from Loyola University Chicago.  

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