Leigh Courtney

Leigh Courtney is a Senior Policy Associate at The Urban Institute, where responsibilities include managing a mixed-methods research study on incarceration trends and overseeing projects focused on prosecutorial decision-making and criminal justice reform. Previous roles include Senior Criminal Justice Research Associate at CSR, Incorporated, conducting research for national justice agencies, and Graduate Research Intern at The Sentencing Project, contributing to publications on life imprisonment and racial justice. Leigh has also held research and policy positions with the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention and the National Juvenile Justice Network. An AmeriCorps VISTA member, Leigh worked to enhance nonprofit services in restorative justice and youth development. Educational qualifications include a BA from Denison University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland.