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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 TASC’s Center for Health and Justice (CHJ) and Executive Director and co-founder of the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC). A co-founder of the international deflection movement, Jac works to advance deflection from research and legislation to policy and practice. CHJ serves as the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance COSSUP National Technical Assistance Center for Law Enforcement Deflection and First Responder Diversion. PTACC, an alliance of 64 national and international organizations, is the global voice for deflection and pre-arrest diversion. Jac has authored numerous publications on deflection, including the 2015 Police Chief article, “Want to Reduce Drugs in Your Community? You Might Want to Deflect Instead of Arrest,” which first introduced the concept of deflection. His expertise centers on crime reduction at the intersection of drugs and crime. He is a Global Expert Trainer in Alternatives to Incarceration with the U.S. Department of State and serves on ONDCP’s Emerging Drug Threats Committee. Previously, Jac served in the Illinois State Parole Division, rising from Officer to Deputy Chief. He is also a U.S. military veteran, Eagle Scout, civic leader, and community organizer.
Koren VanderWeele
Senior Program Manager, TASC, Inc.
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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