Staff

Each State SAC is led by a director who manages the day-to-day operations. Confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, the SAC Director must have extensive knowledge of research methodology and statistical analyses techniques, as well as the ability to design and conduct research studies, and produce and present findings in written and oral presentations. Kansas’ SAC is led by John Grube. Mr. Grube is the Director of Research for the Commission.  In his current capacity as the Director of Research, his duties include serving as the database manager for the research department and author of the agency’s annual report.

He also produces adult prison population and adult custody classification projections, as well as policy impact assessments.  Mr. Grube earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Kansas in 2007 and a Master of Science in Criminology from Oklahoma City University in 2008.  Obtaining his Juris Doctorate degree from Washburn University School of Law in 2012, Mr. Grube is also a licensed attorney.

He previously served as an assistant district attorney in Wyandotte County, Kansas and worked as an appellate attorney for the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Service (BIDS). Prior to law school, Mr. Grube worked as a police officer for the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. John is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Sociology/Criminology program at Kansas State University.

Scott Schultz has been Executive Director for the Kansas Sentencing Commission since 2011 and served on the National Association of Sentencing Commissions Executive Committee from 2013-2016. In this time, his agency has taken the lead in promoting evidence-based practices aimed at reducing recidivism in Kansas.

Prior to joining the Commission, Scott worked at the Kansas Securities Commissioner’s Office for almost 12 years as an Associate General Counsel, Assistant Attorney General and was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute securities violations in state and federal court. His prior employment pursuits include criminal defense work in private practice and prosecuting violent crime as an assistant county attorney. Scott received his law degree from the Washburn University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University.

Kira Johnson is the SB 123 Program Director. She develops and reviews program policy, procedure, and expenditures, while working with the treatment providers to ensure offenders are receiving appropriate treatment. Kira has worked as a behavioral health professional at numerous correctional facilities and in community mental health. Most recently Kira was responsible for the mental health care and programming of the juvenile female population at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC).

Her professional interests include anxiety treatment and correctional psychology. Kira possesses a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Masters Level Psychologist in the state of Kansas. Currently, Kira is a Psy.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program at the Florida Institute of Technology.