Leadership

Interim Executive Director Kim Babine oversees all activities of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). She leads policy and program development and implementation, as well as operational, fiscal and personnel administration.

She joined DPS in 2023 as deputy director of programs of OJP. As deputy director she provided policy, programming and funding direction for OJP’s grant programs. 

Interim Executive Director Babine has extensive experience in state government, including having served at the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for over 10 years. She served as director of government affairs and director of office of policy in DEED's Commissioner Office. She then transitioned to program and operational management as director of community partnerships in the Vocational Rehabilitation Services division, which administers funding for employment programs for individuals with disabilities in Minnesota. Before DEED, she served as legislative director for Minnesota IT Services.

Before joining the state, Interim Executive Director Babine worked in a variety of public service roles including as committee administrator for the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee and The Advocates for Human Rights. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College in Iowa.

Staff

OJP currently has 63 full-time employees,  including 12 reimbursement staff, eight crime victim grants staff, 13 justice and community grants staff, one research staff, one community engagement staff, one housing specialist, one training staff, ten financial and administrative staff, three Crime Victim Justice Unit staff, five Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relations Office staff, one Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls staff, one peace officer training project consultant, one Restorative Practices Office staff, four Youth Justice Office staff, and one law enforcement staff.