Developing Resilience in Correctional Setting: Promoting Lasting Change in a Challenging Environment

SESSION INFO

Wednesday, February 28, 2024
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Session Type: Workshop

Judge Victor Reyes has spent 6 years facilitating a Domestic Violence survivor's group at the Colorado Department of Corrections La Vista Women's Correctional Facility in Pueblo, Colorado. Although the members of the group have changed over the years, there are constant themes that have arisen the awareness of which may assist judges in having a better understanding of why people may act or think in a certain way.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Victor Reyes
District Judge, Mahakaruna Holistic Foundation


Judge Victor Reyes served as a District Judge from January 1999, through December 31, 2014, in the 10th Judicial District located in Pueblo, Colorado. He has presided over, Criminal, Civil, County Court Appeals, Probate, Domestic, Restraining Order, Juvenile and Dependency and Neglect matters. Judge Reyes was also appointed to serve as the judicial liaison on the Colorado Domestic Violence Offender Management Board and the Colorado Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee. Before becoming a judge, he served as a Deputy State Public Defender for the State of Colorado for 15 years where he also provided training. From October of 2021 through January of 2023, Judge Reyes served as the Judge in Residence for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). At NCJFCJ, he was involved with the Judicial Wellness Initiative, specifically hosting the Monday Morning Moments Wellness webinars along with leading wellness sessions at conferences. Judge Reyes also participated in nationwide training, developing curriculum, and writing on all aspects of the law that impacts children, their families, and victims of domestic violence. He has written presentations on Compassionate Leadership, Engaged Justice, and Implied Bias. Since 2002, Judge Reyes has facilitated international and nationwide trainings to a variety of groups and organizations on issues related to mindfulness, every aspect related to domestic violence, the effects of vicarious trauma on judicial officers, judicial leadership, and federal firearms legislation. He provided the training on domestic violence for Colorado Judges and has testified before both houses of the Colorado Legislature on DV related legislation. He has served as faculty for the NCJFCJ, the National Judicial College and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence. Also Judge Reyes has trained Judges from the Ukraine on the issue of Domestic Violence and has participated in webinars sponsored by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Additionally, Judge Reyes conducts peer review of grants for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women and has reviewed domestic violence legislation for countries complying with United Nation Charters. Judge Reyes is a Life-member of the NCJFCJ. He is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and Georgetown University Law Center in W