April 14, 2026 – Hendrix
College alumna Marleigh Hayes ’25 is advancing criminal justice reform efforts
in Arkansas through her leadership with decARcerate, one of 25 organizations
nationwide selected for the Catalyst Grant Program supported by the Urban
Institute and the Microsoft Justice Initiative.
Through the grant, Hayes has helped expand the impact of
Court Watch AR, a decARcerate initiative that promotes transparency and
accountability in Pulaski County court proceedings.
“To promote transparency and accountability in court
proceedings in Pulaski County, decARcerate coordinates a court watch program,
Court Watch AR,” Hayes said.
With Catalyst Grant support, the organization launched a
project titled "Ensuring Effective Implementation of Arkansas’s Fine
Collection Law," which has strengthened public access to court data through
improved technology and reporting tools.
“With Catalyst Grant funding from the Microsoft Justice
Initiative, Court Watch AR’s project 'Ensuring Effective Implementation of
Arkansas’s Fine Collection Law' has dramatically increased the transparency
of courts with the development of a workflow to automate data analysis and
visualization to create an accessible dashboard for the public,” Hayes said.
The dashboard, currently in final development, will help
engage community members, educate the public, and provide judges with data to
support informed decision-making, including information about racial
disparities in fines and fees.
Hayes said the experience also provided significant
professional development opportunities.
“During the six-month grant period, I worked alongside
and learned from Urban Institute senior policy associates, data scientists, and
criminal legal reform organizations across the country to refine Court Watch
AR’s programming and sustainability,” she said.
Hayes began her work with decARcerate during her senior
year at Hendrix, joining the organization part-time as Court Watch Coordinator
in summer 2024. She credits her academic and leadership experiences at Hendrix
with helping prepare her for this work.
“Although I had known I wanted to pursue a career in the
nonprofit and advocacy world, my experiences at Hendrix empowered me to
take my lived experience with family members directly impacted by the criminal
legal system and create change in Arkansas,” Hayes said.
She noted that her involvement in the Hendrix Justice
Initiative and Faulkner County Court Watch helped her develop skills in program
design, volunteer recruitment, and community partnerships that directly
translated to her professional role.
“From the beginning of imagining the Catalyst Grant
project to advance Court Watch AR, I used my experiences and skills from being
a student at Hendrix to design a project to create systemic change,
write the grant proposal, and execute the project,” she said.
Hayes also highlighted the mentorship of Hendrix faculty,
particularly Politics Professor Dr. Delphia Shanks, who advised her on the
grant proposal while she was still a student.
“While I was a senior, I dreamed up the project and wrote the grant proposal
alongside Dr. Delphia Shanks, whose
mentorship equipped me with meaningful technical skills and soft skills beyond the
project that I apply every day,” Hayes said.
Since graduating in May 2025, Hayes has continued to
expand her leadership at decARcerate and now serves as co-director of the
organization. She said her Hendrix education continues to shape her
professional path.
“Hendrix College instilled in me not only a willingness
to take on new challenges and develop skills, but an excitement to,” she said.
Organizations participating in the Catalyst Grant Program
receive funding for project implementation, technical assistance in data and
policy work, access to technology resources, and opportunities for peer
learning. Insights developed through the program will also be shared broadly
with the justice reform community.
About the Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization
dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities through
evidence-based policies and practices. For more than 50 years, the organization
has worked to equip leaders and communities with the research and tools needed
to create more equitable opportunities for all.
About Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is
featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 45 Schools That Will Change the Way You
Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts
colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career
preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors
compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the
United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix College Statement of
Purpose