Shanelle Johnson is the Senior Policy Counsel at the Fines and Fees Justice Center. She is principally responsible for tracking, evaluating and developing policy for FFJC. Shanelle works with the Policy and Research Director to identify emerging areas of fines and fees policy and legislation, and develop best practices and policy guidance. She also provides support on FFJC’s amicus work and research projects at both the state and national level.

Prior to joining the Fines and Fees Justice Center, Shanelle was a member of the Council of State Governments Justice Center’s juvenile justice team supporting states in the development, adoption, and implementation of legislative reforms. In addition, she also served as the Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator at the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention in Maryland, working to reduce reliance on secure confinement and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system.

Shanelle earned her B.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Maryland and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, and is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.