Meet the Team
Dr. Kutateladze specializes in performance indicators and prosecutorial discretion. He is currently managing projects funded by the National Institute of Justice, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Koch Foundation. Prior to his appointment at FIU, Dr. Kutateladze was the founding research director at the Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) and the research director for the Prosecution and Racial Justice Program of the Vera Institute of Justice.
Dr. Don Stemen is an Associate Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Loyola University, Chicago. Before coming to Loyola, he was the Director of Research on Sentencing and Corrections at the Vera Institute of Justice, where he worked with state and county governments to reform criminal justice policies. Dr. Stemen’s research focuses on prosecutorial decision making, exploring contextual factors affecting prosecutorial outcomes, and sentencing and corrections issues, examining the innovation and diffusion of sentencing and corrections policies across the United States.
Dr. Dunlea specializes in data and research on courtroom decision making, with an emphasis on prosecutorial discretion and sociodemographic disparities in criminal case processing. Her research at the FIU Center for the Administration of Justice focuses on data-informed prosecution and helping State Attorney’s Offices become more effective and fair through the improvement of data and analytical capacity. Her work is currently funded by the MacArthur Foundation, the Koch Foundation, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Melba Pearson is an attorney specializing in civil rights and criminal law, with an emphasis on policy. She is the Director of Policy and Programs for Florida International University’s Center for the Administration of Justice. Before joining FIU, Ms. Pearson spent three years as Deputy Director of the ACLU of Florida where she worked to change police practices, expand voting rights, and reform the criminal justice system. Previously, Ms. Pearson was an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County for 16 years, culminating as Assistant Chief in the Career Criminal/Robbery Unit supervising junior attorneys while prosecuting homicides. She lives in Miami Beach with her husband Bill.
Mr. David LaBahn is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), a national association representing elected and deputy or assistant prosecutors, and city attorneys. The association acts as a global forum for the exchange of ideas, allowing prosecutors to collaborate with all criminal justice partners, and conducts timely and effective training and technical assistance to improve the prosecutorial function. In addition, APA serves as an advocate for prosecutors on emerging issues related to the administration of justice, development of partnerships and implementation of problem-solving strategies.
Marlene Biener serves as Senior Deputy General Counsel at APA, where she works directly with prosecutors across the country on criminal justice policies. She oversees and designs trainings, resource guides, and APA publications to convey timely materials and education to prosecutors nationwide. Previously, Marlene worked for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Marlene graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in May 2013. She attended Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Public Policy. Marlene is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Sasha Beatty joined the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys in July 2019 after previously working for the Nashville District Attorney’s Office for two years as an Assistant District Attorney General. There, she prosecuted domestic violence cases before working in Criminal Court Divisions I and V as a felony trial prosecutor. Sasha received her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in May of 2017. She attended Duke University and received her Bachelor of Arts in U.S. History with a minor in French. Sasha is admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Tennessee State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Constitution Society. In addition to her work in the Office of General Counsel, Sasha works as the Web Development Director.