Laura Bout

Laura Bout is a Program Manager for the Policing Leadership Academy (PLA), a branch of the Community Safety Leadership Academies at the University of Chicago Crime Lab. In this role, Laura manages the in-person weeks, works on improving the program, and brings a fresh perspective to various topics with her experience in the Netherlands.

Laura spent over 10 years with the Dutch National Police Force. As a Lieutenant, she focused on building strong ties between law enforcement and the community. In addition to her work at the police, Laura studied Criminology at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, earning both a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a master’s degree in Investigation Criminology.

Following her time at the police, Laura worked with the City Government of Amsterdam, where she developed a network of partners to further enhance relationships between law enforcement and community leaders.

Three years ago, Laura moved to Chicago to join the Consulate General of the Netherlands as a Senior Policy Officer. In this role, she works to strengthen connections between the Netherlands and the Midwest, with a particular focus on community engagement and public diplomacy projects.