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Deflection and Reentry: Expanding Opportunities in Probation and Parole
SESSION INFO
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Session Type: Workshop
Deflection is a pre-arrest strategy that connects individuals to treatment, recovery, and supportive services in lieu of deeper involvement with the justice system. While typically used prior to system entry, it offers a practical opportunity for community supervision professionals to improve outcomes without expanding enforcement. This session focuses on two applications: connecting family members and close contacts of individuals under supervision to deflection services, and using deflection as a bridge at reentry when supervision ends. Participants will learn how to identify needs within an individual’s social environment that contribute to violations and instability, and how to facilitate voluntary referrals for those not under supervision. The session also demonstrates how deflection can support continuity of care at reentry, reducing recidivism and preventing future system involvement. Participants will leave with actionable strategies they can implement to strengthen engagement, reduce violations, and improve long-term outcomes.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Jac A. Charlier, MPA
Executive Director, TASC, Inc.
Jac Charlier is the Executive Director of Treatment Alternatives for Stronger Communities (TASC) Center for Health and Justice, which specializes in solutions at the intersection of public safety and public health that make communities stronger, safer, and healthier.
A former Deputy Chief with Illinois State Parole, Jac is the founder and CEO of the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC), the global voice of the deflection field, and is a founder of the international deflection field, creating strategies that bridge law enforcement, treatment, and community to reduce drug use and decrease drug-related crime victimization. Jac also serves as the Global Law Enforcement and Justice Liaison with the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and is the Vice-President of the Illinois Academy of Criminology (IAC).
Jac is a military veteran and Eagle Scout. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Illinois (USA) and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from The Ohio State University (USA), where his thesis focused on the experiences of crime survivors. He and his wife have five children, and when possible, he is glad to pick up a rugby match in whatever country he is working.
Koren VanderWeele
Senior Program Manager, TASC, Inc.
Koren VanderWeele, Senior Program Manager with TASC's Center for Health and Justice
Koren VanderWeele is a Senior Program Manager with Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC)’s Center for Health and Justice (CHJ), where she leads statewide and national efforts to expand first responder deflection and pre-arrest diversion. She provides training and technical assistance to help communities translate vision into action through effective planning and implementation.
With a foundation in law enforcement, Koren began her career as a police officer in Roswell, New Mexico, before moving into behavioral health and justice reform. Her career reflects a powerful bridge between the realities of policing and the promise of public health approaches. She has also served as a Technical Assistance Provider for the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), led statewide deflection planning in Oregon, and helped develop the PTACC Deflection Fellowship Program.
An honors graduate of Western Michigan University, Koren completed a thesis on pre-arrest diversion models for individuals with substance use disorders. A frequent national presenter, she shares her expertise at conferences such as PTACC, APHA, and RecoverCon.
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