Date of Award
Spring 2025
Document Type
Professional Project
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Social and Cultural Sciences
Program
Criminal Justice Data Analytics
Abstract
The Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD) relies on mitigation reports to communicate the personal histories, circumstances, and mitigating factors of clients during criminal defense and sentencing advocacy. Traditionally, these reports are text-heavy documents that must be reviewed efficiently by attorneys, judges, and other stakeholders. Research suggests that data visualizations, including maps, charts, infographics, and the strategic use of color, can improve comprehension, increase engagement, and provide clearer context for complex information. This project explores the design and development of a Tableau dashboard that enables the efficient creation and integration of data visualizations within SPD mitigation reports. The project seeks to enhance the communication of both qualitative and quantitative information by transforming relevant data into accessible visual formats. By streamlining the visualization process, the proposed tool aims to improve the effectiveness of mitigation advocacy, support informed decision-making, and provide a more comprehensive representation of a client's life circumstances and experiences within the criminal justice system.