Jenny Catchings

Senior State Policy Manager

As Senior State Policy Manager, Jenny Catchings works with lawmakers and coalitions across the country to enact criminal justice reform legislation in JAN’s target states. 

She previously served as a policy fellow for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health based out of the University of Texas at Austin. In that role, Jenny worked on many healthcare issues that overlap with the criminal justice system, such as behavioral health crisis management, diversion from jails to health services, and mental healthcare workforce development. She also served as an early resolutions ombuds and policy researcher for the Washington State Office of the Corrections Ombuds based in Olympia, Washington.

Additionally, Jenny has worked in the Texas legislature during session as a policy analyst and hearing clerk for the House Committee on County Affairs, focusing especially on public health and county jail bills. In 2019-2020, she served as an instructor in the Texas Prison Education Initiative.     

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from The Evergreen State College, and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs in The University of Texas at Austin.