CEO & Founder
Dr. Jessica Herbert (she/her/hers), Founder/CEO of IDEA Analytics, brings over 20 years of experience in policing, research, and data science to lead clients through transformational projects. As the leader of IDEA Analytics, Jessica believes the best path for change and transformation includes meaningful collaboration with stakeholders. She implements these values throughout IDEA’s four-phased approach to help organizations Identify their current and desired objectives, Develop sustainable changes and responses, Educate staff and community on new approaches, and Assess progress toward organizational goals.
Jessica’s career has spanned government, public, and private industry. She began her path as a law enforcement officer in Fairfax County (VA) where her analytical and investigative skills supported multi-year investigations for the Northern Virginia Violent Crime and Firearm Taskforce, a collaboration among Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Secret Service (USSS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In this capacity, Jessica supported interstate and international investigations regarding firearm, human, and drug trafficking, money laundering, and other complex crimes. Upon leaving public service, Jessica leveraged her investigative skills with private industry on cybersecurity threats within financial, energy, and manufacturing industries, resulting in protections against domestic assets and intellectual property. During this time, she also held a teaching position with George Mason University (GMU) Criminology, Law and Society Department on topics of Homeland Security, Intelligence Analysis, and Policing. She also sponsored GMU’s student-led Intelligence Community Group, developing events to engage with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of Defense (DoD) leaders for intelligence simulations and exercises.
In focusing most recently on domestic policing topics, Jessica applies her leadership, expertise, and advisement to public safety officials on matters of data-driven or intelligence-led policing, problem solving, program strategies, and organizational change. Her expertise has been leveraged within national crime reduction initiatives such as the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Diagnostic Center, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Violent Reduction Network(VRN)/National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), Crime Analysis on Demand and Technology Initiatives, and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In addition, Jessica works with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center and Field-generated Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance programs, and with Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program’s (OJJDP) juvenile justice reform efforts to coordinate with victim service providers, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Her multi-system and collaborative work approaches resulted in sustainable, long-term strategies to support organizational shifts and enhance data-driven responses to community needs.
Jessica’s individualized and pragmatic approach to every project has earned her awards and commendations from local government leaders, United States Attorney’s Office, the ATF, and community members. These successes are informed by her past work in over 80 cities, focusing on strategic decision making for local governments of all sizes. Jessica’s ability to help clients quickly assess and articulate their needs and develop a path through implementation has made her a sought-after strategic partner.
Dr. Herbert holds double bachelor’s degrees of Administration of Justice and Sociology from George Mason University, a Master of Arts in Global Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University and her Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. She has several professional certifications in topics of design learning, data science, and other technical skills. Her research interests focus on organizational behaviors and capacity building for public safety and communities to support change, which she is always excited to talk about with others. When not traveling around the US and other countries, Jessica lives in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, Arizona) where she supports the small business community, enjoys hiking, meditation, and the cultures of the SouthWest.
Journal Article | The Frequency and Clustering of Autism-Related Behaviors During Encounters between the Police and the Autistic Community
Wallace, D., Herbert, J., Hassrick McGhee, E., & Kabourek, S.
Policing: An International Journal, Special Edition on Police Contact with Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
Case Study | Orlando (FL) Police Department Crime Center
Herbert, J.L. & Corona, A.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Crime Analysis on Demand Initiative
Journal Article | The Informal, Non-Organizational Ways Police Officers Receive Training on Encounters with Autistic Individuals
Herbert, J.L., Pelletier, K. & Wallace, D.
Policing
White Paper | Scanning and Analysis: The Initial Phases of Starting Crime Reduction Programs
Hubbert, N., & Herbert, J.L.
White Paper | Appropriate Response Committee Initiative
Corona, A., Hubbert, N., & Herbert, J.L.
Yakima (WA) Police Department
Action Plan | Gang and Gun Violence in Rural Cities
Herbert, J.L. & Corona, A.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: Yakima (WA) Police Department
Journal Article | Interactions between Individuals on the Autism Spectrum and the Police: The Fears of Parents, Caregivers and Professionals.
Wallace, D., Herbert, J.L., Tyler, D. and McGee-Hassrick, E.
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice
White Paper | Crime Analysis: Considerations for Establishing or Enhancing Capacity
Wartell, J., & Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program.
Case Study | School Resource Officers’ Identification of Student Risk Factors
Herbert, J. L.
Action Plan | Developing a Crime Regional Crime Information Center: Salisbury (NC)
Herbert, J.L. & Smith, P.
SMART Policing; Salisbury (NC) Police Department
Report | Data Collection and Audit – Police Improvements to Data for Reducing Crime: Jackson (MS) Police Department.
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Crime Analysis on Demand Initiative
Report | Building Analytical Capacity: Amarillo (TX) Police Department
Herbert, J.L. (2020).
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program.
Report | Building Analytical Capacity: Harris County (TX) Sheriff Office
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program
Report | Technology Planning and Implementation: Harris County (TX) Sheriff Office
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program
Report | Building Analytical Capacity: Orlando (FL) Police Department.
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Crime Analysis on Demand Initiative.
Dissertation | But I am Here to Help: How School Climate Factors and Interactions Define School Resource Officer Roles
Herbert, J.L.
Arizona State University
Report | Evaluation of Operation Santa Patrol: Salisbury (NC) Police Department
Hatcher, J. & Herbert, J.L.
Report | Building Analytical Capacity: Springfield (IL) Police Department
Herbert, J.L. & Hubbert, N.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program
Report | Building Analytical Capacity: Baton Rouge (LA) Police Department
Herbert, J.L. & Hubbert, N.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance National Public Safety Partnership Program
Article | Data Management
Herbert, J.L.
Barnes, J.C. & Forde, D.R. (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Research Methods & Statistical Technique in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Wiley Blackwell: Hoboken, New Jersey.
Article | Human Subjects Research
Herbert, J.L.
Found in Barnes, J.C. & Forde, D.R. (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Research Methods & Statistical Technique in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Wiley Blackwell: Hoboken, New Jersey.
Research | Behaviors Displayed by Individuals with Autism During Police Encounters.
Wallace, D., & Herbert, J.
Report | Evaluating Juvenile Arrest Rates and Diversionary Programs; Vallejo, CA
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Evaluation of Building Data Capacity for Intelligence-Led Policing Efforts: Fayetteville (NC)
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Evaluation of Violent Crime & Police Department Responses: Salisbury, NC
Nunez, A., Herbert, J.L. & Thomas, K.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
Report | Evaluation of Community Policing and Data-Driven Crime Reduction Strategies: Fayetteville (NC)
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Capacity Building to Address Human Trafficking in Rural America: Albert Lea (MN)
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Evaluation of Family Court Reforms: Clark County (NV)
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Assessment of Violent Crime Patterns: Toledo (OH) Police Department
Herbert, J.L.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
White Paper | Developing Strategic Technology Planning for Public Safety
Herbert, J.L.
Report | Evaluation of Complaints and Disciplinary Policies for a School Resource Officer Program.
Larimore, L. & Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
Report | Reducing Violent Crime, A Two-Year Review: West Memphis (AR) Police Department
Larimore, L. & Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Resource Guide | Data collection, analysis, and assessment of intra-agency violence reduction strategies
Vogel, B., Malm, A., Vikovik, S., Ferdetta, J. & Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Identification and analysis of intra-jurisdictional data resources to effectively measure violence reduction in communities
Herbert, J. L. & Ferdetta, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
Book Chapter | Case Study: Evaluations of Community Policing Models.
Herbert, J.L. & Springer, J. F.
Chapter 17 in Peter J. Haas, J. Fred Springer, & Allan Porowski, Applied Policy Research: Concepts and Cases, 2nd Edition. Routledge: New York.
Report | Assessment of Crime Analysis and Data Maturity: Jackson (MS) Police Department
Herbert, J.L., & Wartell, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Report | Assessment of Crime Analysis and Data Maturity: West Memphis (AR) Police Department
Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Report | Assessment of police-youth interactions: One department’s approach to a School Resource Officer program, Richland County (SC).
Herbert, J. L., Hubbert, N., & Hascher, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Examination of gun violence and analysis capabilities in Vallejo, CA
Herbert, J. L., Ferdetta, J. & Wartell, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Evaluation of focused deterrence and deferred prosecution programs in Dallas, Texas.
Bravo, J., Herbert J. L., Sousa, W., & Hascher, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
Report | Implementing intelligent jail systems and developing data science unit for data-driven correctional operations (Denver, CO)
Bravo, J. Herbert, J. L. & Ware, W. (2017).
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
White Paper | Identifying Levels of Evaluation for Police Crime Analysis Unit Performance
Herbert, J.L.
International Association of Crime Analysts, Standards Committee.
Article | An A+ Partnership: The Value of Law Enforcement and Academia Working Together
Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center.
Report | Key trends in body-worn camera policy and practice: A policy analysis of US Department of Justice-funded law enforcement agencies
White, M. D., Herbert, J.L., & Katz, C. M.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance
Report | An assessment of data collection practices and security incidents for the University of Michigan’s Division of Public Safety and Security
Herbert, J.L. & Fritz, N.J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Evaluating performance measures of a real-time crime center
Herbert, J.L., Campana, A. & Ferdetta, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | An analysis of burglary and arson in Flint, Michigan
Herbert, J.L., Bruce, C.W., & Ferdetta, J.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Article | From Handshakes to Hashtags: Communication Tools for Policing
Medlock, H. & Herbert, J.L.
Police Chief Magazine. International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Report| Rebuilding community trust through community policing
Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Addressing incarceration data, sentencing models and reforms
Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Analysis of sentencing reform and offender population for the Nevada Department of Corrections
Herbert, J.L., Rickman, S., Austin, J., & Watkins, B.T.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Article | Connecting Police and Communities
Herbert, J.L.
SMART Policing Initiative. The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Report | Examination of youth violent crime and community-police relations in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Herbert, J.L., & Brunson, R.K.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center
Report | Addressing violent crime with community-oriented policing
Herbert, J.L.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center