As PJI’s Project Director, Local Change Work, I oversee the “Willful Flight: Shifting Policy and Culture” project. This innovative project offers first-of-its-kind technical assistance to Boston Municipal Court to develop and evaluate bail criteria based on a ‘willful flight’ rather than a‘failure to appear’ standard. I love working at PJI because ‘pretrial reform’ is my love language and PJI is at the forefront of informing, training, and supporting those invested in equity-driven pretrial reform.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, where my parents grounded me in community, emphasized the importance of helping others, and instilled a fervent desire to seek justice. I have been a public servant for over twenty-five years, starting as a social worker and subsequently serving as an advocate, educator, mediator, court administrator, and civil and criminal trial attorney. Whatever the role, I am happiest when I can assist in creating, implementing, and evaluating research-based policies. I have a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, and a Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.
I live in fabulous Las Vegas so in my free time I like to take advantage of the world class food, shopping, gambling, and entertainment my city has to offer.