Arnold Ventures Appoints Julie James Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice

Washington, D.C. (August 5, 2026) – Arnold Ventures has promoted Julie James to executive vice president of Criminal Justice. In this role, Julie will lead Arnold Ventures’ work to help prevent and solve more crimes,reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for those who spend time in prison, and help policymakers tackle other pressing public safety challenges. 

“Julie is an exceptional leader who combines policy expertise, strategic judgment, and a deep commitment to impact,” said Kelli Rhee, president and CEO of Arnold Ventures. ​“For more than a decade, our criminal justice work has reflected Arnold Ventures at its best: rigorous, innovative, bipartisan, and focused on solutions that make communities safer while improving lives. Julie is the right leader to guide this work forward.” 

Joining the organization in 2017, Julie has led Arnold Venture’s criminal justice policy work for the past three years. She held previous roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, in the nonprofit sector, and in private legal practice. As executive vice president, Julie will oversee one of the nation’s leading criminal justice research portfolios, ensuring that Arnold Ventures remains a trusted source of knowledge and expertise. She and the Arnold Ventures team will also work with policymakers and practitioners to adopt proven policies at the local, state, and federal levels. 

Arnold Ventures has also promoted Marc Krupanski and Carson Whitelemons to Vice President. Marc will lead Arnold Venture’s efforts to prevent and solve crime, and Carson will lead Arnold Venture’s work to improve prison outcomes. 

“Arnold Ventures’ criminal justice work is grounded in the belief that Americans deserve safe communities and a justice system that is effective, fair, and worthy of public trust,” said Julie James. ​“I look forward to working with my colleagues and our grantees and partners to continue advancing this important mission.”