Dr. Kimbla Newsom has over twenty years of experience as a practitioner working within both public and private-sector juvenile justice organizations in Arkansas, Maryland, and Texas. Her experience with using performance-based standards (PbS) date back to 2008, which includes her being an Agency PbS Coordinator for jurisdictions in multiple states. Additionally, she has been certified by the Department of Justice as a PREA auditor for both adult and juvenile facilities since 2014. Dr. Newsom is the founder and managing member of JustUS Advocacy, LLC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology from the University of Arkansas. Additionally, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Criminal Justice from UALR.