Ali Banister

Ali Banister has played an active role in building mental health services for the State of Nevada. She was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on the Northern Nevada Mental Health Commission. She also received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration-Criminal Justice and completed her dissertation on Trauma and Juvenile Justice in Carson City, Nevada. She is extremely passionate about bringing solutions to the mental health arena, specifically for youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. Ali has implemented multiple front end services and programs to divert delinquent youth out of the system. Such programs and services include the Juvenile Justice Assessment Screening Triage Team (JJASTT program), The Parent Project, The Family Engagement Program, School Resource Officers, Co-Occurring, and the Leadership and Resiliency Program.
Ali Banister currently serves as the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for Carson City Juvenile Services in Carson City, Nevada and also works as a part time professor teaching juvenile law at Walden University and Western Nevada College. Prior to being promoted as Chief, she served as the Deputy Chief in Carson City, Nevada. She has worked in many capacities of the juvenile legal system, from youth counselor at China Spring Youth Camp and Leighton Hall Detention Center to probation officer in both Fallon and Carson City. She holds her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Justice Management and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. Ali also holds her Nevada Management and Executive POST certificates.

Education

BA, University of Nevada, Reno

MA, University of Nevada, Reno

PhD, Walden University