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Panel Track: Policy and Legislation
SESSION INFO
Monday, August 28, 2023
3:45 PM - 5:15 PM
Session Type: Special Session
In the wake of so many legislative and legal changes to community supervision and corrections law, we hope that you'll join us for a discussion on the evidence behind the reforms, the challenges and processes to pass them, and the real-life impact of these changes in jurisdictions across the nation. Join Erin Haney, REFORM Alliance's Senior Director of Policy & Law, and Topeka Sam, Founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM) for a discussion on meaningful legislative and legal changes to community supervision systems and reentry services, the practical impact of these changes so far, and additional reforms on the horizon. Legislative and legal reforms for discussion include but are not limited to parole eligibility, parole and probation caps, supervision caseloads, technical violations, anti-recidivism funding, supervision fines and fees, individualized assessments, positive incentives, higher education opportunities, wrap around and reentry services. You will hear about recent reforms and data, with an emphasis on the evidence and effects of these new laws and changes to reentry services.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Ms. Erin Haney, Esq
National Policy Director, REFORM Alliance
Erin Haney, Policy Director, REFORM Alliance, Erin Haney is the Senior Director of Policy and Law at REFORM Alliance, where she works with bipartisan coalitions, lawmakers from across the political spectrum, and directly-impacted advocates to improve supervision systems and increase public safety outcomes nationwide. Prior to joining REFORM, Erin worked as a deputy public defender in San Francisco and a death penalty attorney in California. Erin has worked at all levels of the criminal justice system, representing indigent clients from pretrial through postconviction. Erin also served as Policy Director at #cut50, where she led successful efforts to pass landmark state and federal legislation.
Topeka Sam
Executive Director, The Ladies of Hope Ministries
Dr. Topeka K. Sam is the Founder of The Ladies of Hope Ministries, Inc. (@TheLOHM) and founder and President of EPIC Financial PBLLC, TKS Ventures LLC and Faces & Voices Inc.
She serves on the board of directors for The Marshall Project, Operation Restoration, Pure Legacee and United Justice Coalition. She is a strategic advisor for RBIJ and HARP. She is Co-founder and Visionary Officer of FRSH.
Since her release from federal prison on May 5, 2015, Topeka has served as a 2015 Beyond the Bars Fellow and a 2016 Justice-In-Education Scholar both from Columbia University, 2017 Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow, 2018 Unlocked Futures Inaugural Cohort Member, 2018 Opportunity Agenda Communications Institute Fellow, Director of #Dignity for Incarcerated Women Campaign and Senior Advisor for NYUJ.
She hosted "The Topeka K. Sam Show" on SiriusXM Urban View Channel 126 for 3 years and is now developing scripted and unscripted series as an Executive Producer for TV & Film, inspired by her fight to change the many problems that plague female incarceration.
In 2020, the United Nations appointed Topeka as the Goodwill Ambassador for Social Justice (Incarceration Reform) of the Global Festival of Creative Economy. In December 2020, Topeka received a full presidential pardon for her dedication to helping women turn from a path of despair towards a path of redemption.
On May 5th, 2022, Google.org presented her with the first Social Impact Award at the Variety Magazine/Lifetime TV Power of the Women Summit and later that month she also received her Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary. Dr. Sam has worked and continues to work selflessly and relentlessly in her fight for the dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration of women and girls. She has worked and continues to work selflessly and relentlessly in her fight for the dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration of women and girls. All Social Media Handles: @TopekaKSam
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