Biography

Leigh Ann Davis is the Senior Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at The Arc of the United States and directs The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD®). With 26 years of experience working at the intersection of intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) and criminal justice, Ms. Davis continually strives to build stronger lines of open communication and understanding between these two worlds. She has authored numerous publications and presents nationally and internationally on a broad array of criminal justice and disability topics. In 2013, she worked with The Arc to secure funding and fulfill a long-term dream to create NCCJD®, the first national center in the U.S. to adequately address both victim and defendant issues, and oversaw the development of NCCJD’s signature training: Pathways to Justice®. As The Arc’s subject matter expert related to criminal justice and disability issues, she is often interviewed by national media outlets and provides consultation to a number of federal agencies and non-profit agencies. Ms. Davis works from a home office in Arlington, Texas and holds a B.S.W (Bachelors of Science in Social Work), M.S.S.W. (Masters of Science in Social Work), and M.P.A. (Masters of Public Administration) from the University of Texas at Arlington.