Racial Justice Townhall: Part IV

SESSION INFO

Monday, January 31, 2022
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Session Type: Workshop

APPA held its first Racial Justice Town Hall meeting in August 2020 followed by sessions in May and August 2021. During these meetings, of sorts, probation and parole leaders spoke frankly about the issue of racism in America, and more specifically about the impact of racial inequities in the justice system. Back by popular demand, the conversation continues in Atlanta. APPA’s Diversity Committee will host this iteration and discuss matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how community corrections professionals, the individuals they serve, and the community as a whole is impacted by issues of inequality; then they will present ideas and solutions to minimize the negative impact of racism in our field. Join the session and realize the importance to confront this issue. As always, the goal is to create a better society for all for generations to come!

SESSION PRESENTERS

Marcus Matthew Hodges
Associate Director, CSOSA


Marcus M. Hodges, the immediate past-President of the National Association of Probation Executives, began a trajectory of impressive public service when he joined the Virginia Department of Corrections in 1992. Throughout his career he has worked to promote programs and processes that support the reintegration of released offenders to the community. Experienced in prisons, community corrections, and probation and parole, Hodges joined the National Institute of Corrections as a Correctional Program Specialist with the Community Corrections/Prisons Division. With a primary focus on community corrections, his tenure included work in the areas of transition from prison to community, evidence-based practices in corrections, and pretrial services. Other focus areas included programming on promoting a positive corrections culture and managing a multi-generational workforce. As a Chief Probation and Parole Officer and as a Regional Administrator for the Virginia Department of Corrections, Hodges promoted strategic and innovative risk management, offender programming, and comprehensive and robust processes for reintegration success. In 2015, Hodges was named to Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Committee for Parole Review and worked on associated sub-committees to develop an in-depth review of the efficacy of the parole system. In 2017, he was named the Associate Director for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency in Washington, D.C. In recognition of his work, in 2018 he received the Middle Atlantic States President’s award for Innovation in Corrections.


Alisha Shoates James
Sr. Vice President at Aventiv Technologies, The James Group


Alisha James is a dedicated member of the criminal justice community with a passion to assist government and private industry. Ms. James currently serves as Senior Vice President of Post Incarceration for Aventiv Technologies, an innovative technology company that is leading the way in providing affordable and accessible reform-minded products and services. She also serves as founder of James Group Consulting, a firm focused on leadership, strategic planning and criminal justice related initiatives. During her government service, positions included Assistant Commissioner for Community Supervision in the Tennessee Department of Correction, Probation Officer for the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services - Middle District of Tennessee, and Police Officer for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. With over 17 years of experience in some of the most integral parts of the criminal justice system, Ms. James is a distinguished leader who is committed to addressing today’s challenges with innovation and measurable results.


Michael W Nail
Commissioner, GA Department of Community Supervision


Michael W. Nail is the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. In this role, he is responsible for leading one of the nation’s largest community supervision agencies and is responsible for the supervision of over 200,000 adult felony offenders. With over 30 years of experience, he is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the areas of corrections, probation, and parole. He currently serves as the President of the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE). Mr. Nail holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Public Administration, and is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.


Jeremiah Stromberg
Assistant Director of Community Corrections, Oregon Department of Corrections


Jeremiah Stromberg is the Assistant Director of the Community Corrections Division for the Oregon Department of Corrections. In this capacity, he governs the funding, legislation, policies, and practices of parole and probation supervision for the state of Oregon. He is also the Chair of the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. Prior to this role, he served as the Executive Director and Member of the Oregon Board of Parole. He spent 12 years working for the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice where he oversaw a variety of specialized units.