Patty Dobbs Hodges

Senior Vice President

Director, Center for Violent Crime Reduction

Patricia "Patty" Dobbs Hodges is a senior vice president with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). In this role, she utilizes her broad law enforcement and federal and local government experience as director of IIR’s Center for Violent Crime Reduction (CVCR) to support the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Partnerships to Address Labor Trafficking. PSP, a flagship DOJ violence reduction initiative, provides an innovative framework and infrastructure support for DOJ to enhance its support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities in cities struggling with high rates of violent crime. Ms. Dobbs Hodges provides overall strategic management and oversight of the design, delivery, and quality of PSP resources and services delivered by IIR, including the PSP website, training and technical assistance (TTA) delivery, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, Communities of Practice, the PSP Virtual Academy, and the annual PSP Summit. For all of IIR’s CVCR programs, she is responsible for providing strategic direction and partnerships; maintaining client relations; overseeing collaboration and coordination with partners and providers on program development and delivery; and ensuring that high-quality, contemporary program support is developed for and delivered to the criminal justice community. As a former sworn law enforcement officer, Ms. Dobbs Hodges has intimate knowledge of the concerns and needs of the law enforcement community. She combines that expertise with her extensive experience in developing and delivering national TTA programs for DOJ to ensure that the flagship distinction of the IIR-managed programs continues to prosper and provide exceptional service and benefit to the law enforcement field.

Previously, Ms. Dobbs Hodges led IIR’s Criminal Justice Initiatives (CJI) group. In addition, Ms. Dobbs Hodges led IIR’s Center for Law Enforcement Safety and Wellness (LESW), which includes the VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program and the National Suicide Awareness for Law Enforcement Officers Program. She was instrumental in pursuing national certification for training curriculum, standardizing training curriculum across programs, and successfully converting all classroom training to virtual and hybrid training. She led the VALOR Program through a successful program revamp, incorporating the latest adult-learning theory, neuroscience on behavioral change, and technology into training and resource delivery and utilizing performance metrics to maximize positive results from officers’ changed behavior. In addition, Ms. Dobbs Hodges has served as a senior research associate on many of IIR’s national-level law enforcement projects.

Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Dobbs Hodges was a BJA branch chief. In this position, she directly supported the development and management of various federal grant programs, including the Policing Hiring Supplement (precursor to the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services), Violence Against Women grants, and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program. She was responsible for program administration and management, including compliance monitoring. During her tenure at DOJ, Ms. Dobbs Hodges received the U.S. Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the National Performance Review Hammer Award, and the Just Works Award for her contributions to department programs.

Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Dobbs Hodges was a branch chief for BJA. In this position, she directly supported the development and management of various federal grant programs, including the Policing Hiring Supplement (precursor to the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services), Violence Against Women grants, and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program. She was responsible for program administration and management, including compliance monitoring. During her tenure at DOJ, Ms. Dobbs Hodges received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the National Performance Review Hammer Award, and the JustWorks Award for her contributions to department programs.

Previously, Ms. Dobbs Hodges served as a grant administrator for the District of Columbia Office of Grants Management and Development and was responsible various grant programs including the Weed and Seed Program. She also served as a police officer for the city of Norfolk, Virginia.

Ms. Dobbs Hodges earned a master of science degree in justice from American University, Washington, DC, and a bachelor of arts degree in law enforcement from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.