Kennesaw State University associate professor Austin Brown is leading a data-driven effort to strengthen Georgia’s juvenile justice programs. Supported by a $62,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Brown heads the Annual Recidivism Report, which examines how effective intervention programs are in reducing youth reoffending across the state.
The report analyzes records of youths released from DJJ facilities to track recidivism trends and assess which rehabilitation efforts are most successful. Findings are presented to the Georgia General Assembly and other stakeholders, informing policy decisions and funding allocations for juvenile justice initiatives.
Brown emphasized the importance of recognizing the individuals behind the statistics: “At the end of the day, each record in the data isn’t just a row in a spreadsheet; it’s a person, and in this case, it’s a child,” he said. “We want lawmakers and the public to see beyond the numbers and recognize the kids behind them.”
The partnership between Kennesaw State University’s College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) and DJJ began nearly ten years ago under Professor Emeritus Jennifer Priestley. Brown took over after Priestley’s retirement, continuing collaboration with DJJ staff on reviewing data queries and ensuring findings are accurate for policymakers.
“Statistics can be manipulated if they’re not presented carefully,” said Brown. “Our role is to make sure the information is transparent, accurate, and meaningful so that decisions, especially about funding, are based on quality data.”
One trend highlighted by Brown was a narrowing gap between male and female recidivism rates: “When I first started, males were at a significantly higher risk of reoffending compared to females,” he said. “In recent years, those curves have come together. To me, that speaks to the success of the rehabilitation programs in place, particularly those targeting young men.”
Brown noted that while lawmakers are primary recipients of these findings, schools and community organizations also benefit from greater understanding: “This population is often hidden from everyday view,” he said. “Sharing this data helps people see these kids for who they are, not just labels, but individuals who may have faced difficult circumstances and deserve a second chance.”
The project also funds graduate students’ participation in compiling the report. Students gain experience working with complex datasets using tools such as Structured Query Language (SQL) and Statistical Analysis System (SAS), as well as creating professional visualizations.
“In the classroom, datasets are often clean and straightforward,” Brown said. “But in the real world, data is complicated. Guiding students through this process not only supports DJJ but also prepares them to be stronger data scientists after graduation.”
Yiming Ji, CCSE Interim Dean at Kennesaw State University, commented on both societal impact and academic value: “Brown’s leadership on this project demonstrates how CCSE faculty are using their expertise to make a real difference in Georgia,” Ji said. “By applying advanced data analysis to juvenile justice, he is not only improving public policy outcomes but also giving our students invaluable experience in solving real-world problems.”
Reflecting on his work with recidivism reports for Georgia’s juvenile justice system, Brown stated: “Seeing the recidivism rates go down gives me hope,” he said. “I may just be the one running the numbers, but those numbers reflect the impact of people on the ground who are changing lives. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.”
