Eric Hays is a Senior Consultant with the Blue Sky Consulting Group. Previously, Mr. Hays served as the Research Director at the California Institute for County Government. His responsibilities at CICG included compiling available county data into the biennial "California County Fact Book," and collecting data for all the Institute's research projects. Mr. Hays conducted statewide analyses of the relationship between probation caseload and crime, the effect of broken windows policing on serious crime, and the ramifications of the hiring of additional law enforcement officers on the criminal justice system as a whole in one California county. Mr. Hays also authored an analysis of Ventura County's justice system. Prior to working at CICG, Mr. Hays worked as a Geographic Information Specialist for Yolo County, conducted research on land-use policies and industry cluster formation while a graduate student at UC Davis, and tracked state legislation on behalf of the Council of UC Faculty Associations.

Mr. Hays received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Master of Science, Community and Regional Development, degree from the University of California at Davis.