News & Announcements
Scott Schultz Received 2026 Rick Kern Memorial Award
On behalf of the National Association of Sentencing Commissions, the Executive Committee is excited to announce the selection of Scott Schultz as the 2026 recipient of the Richard P. Kern Memorial Award. The Kern Award was established to honor the lasting legacy of Rick Kern, who was a tremendous advocate for sentencing guidelines, sentencing reform, and data-driven decision making. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed greatly to the development of sentencing policy and research; Scott is an obvious and fitting choice for this honor.
While you need no reminder of the important work Scott has contributed to the Kansas Sentencing Commission, some of his most notable achievements include leading the KSSC in accurately predicting projected prison bed impact for proposed legislation (within 2.3%) for over a decade, modernizing Kansas’s presentencing method through the creation of the KSApp, drafting and lobbying for House Bill 2552 making its use mandatory, initiating a comprehensive review of the Kanas Sentencing Guidelines Act, and securing over $675,000 in grants to help with the review.
In addition to his many accomplishments within Kansas, he has been a significant contributor to sentencing and criminal issues on the national level as well. His expertise in forecasting prison bed impact, data dashboards, and evidence-based practices aimed at reducing recidivism is relied upon across the country. In addition to routinely consulting with other jurisdictions and Commissions and serving as a mentor for new Commission directors, he has also been an active member of NASC, including serving on the Executive Committee from 2013 to 2015. Scott regularly attends the annual conference and has contributed to panels and plenaries on a wide variety of topics.
The NASC Executive Committee sincerely thanks Judge Stacey Donovan for nominating Executive Director Scott Schultz.
The Kern Award was presented at the 2026 NASC Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in August. Congratulations, Scott!
The Kansas Sentencing Commission published a press release about the award.