Kristen Mahoney

Ms. Kristen Mahoney serves as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Office of Justice Programs. As such, she is responsible for the management of nearly 7,916 awards totaling $4,491,467,168. She has comprehensive and practical experience creating criminal justice policies, programming and technical assistance that aid state, local, and tribal communities. She has provided national leadership and outreach on criminal justice issues by identifying and supporting evidence-based programs, best practices, and innovative approaches to challenges facing criminal justice stakeholders. In 2016 she was recognized for her work developing and implementing the Violence Reduction Network (now the National Public Safety Partnership) and was awarded the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive by President Barack Obama.

From 2006-2012, Kristen served the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention for the State of Maryland. Ms. Mahoney came to state government after serving as the Chief of Technical Services for the Baltimore Police Department and the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for the City of Baltimore. Ms. Mahoney received her B.A. from Sweet Briar College and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore. She is a member of the Maryland Bar and has practiced law with the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland, specializing in the representation of abused and neglected children.