Panel Track: Staff Shortages in Community Corrections: Finding and Retaining Talent

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Carmen Z. Gomez, PhD is a Criminal Justice and Judicial professional and DEIA advocate with over 26 years of experience. She currently serves as a Regional Supervisor for the Massachusetts Probation Service. She holds a PhD in Philosophy with a concentration in Law, Policy, and Society, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice, and master’s level certificates in Mediation and Hostage Negotiation, Domestic Violence, CJ Management, and Behavioral Analysis. She has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, and as a consultant to local, state, and federal entities providing expertise in the areas of sex crimes, and serial killings. She serves as an APPA Leadership Institute Coordinator. She also serves in the Board of Directors of the National Association of Probation Executive, Enroot, Cambridge Community Services, and the Governor’s Criminal Record Review Board. She is a current member of the American Probation and Parole Association and the Co-Founder and Member of the Foundation for Non-Violent Action. She organized the Massachusetts Trial Court’s first annual Women’s History Month Celebration in 2021 and has worked with an impressive committee of women to plan subsequent celebrations. A continuation of her dedication to advancing women’s rights and securing recognition for their contributions. She is the recipient of the 2020 Amplify Latinx Latina Leader for the category of Government, and Public Policy, 2019 Martin Luther King Spirit Award, 2018 Mutual of America Community Partnership – Rosie’s Place, 2017 Mutual of America – United States Mint Liberty Coin, 2017 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court, 2017 Women of Distinction, 2015 One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Massachusetts, 2012 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court, and Distinguished Alumna in Liberal Arts, Humanity, and Education. She has devoted most of her life to public service, civil rights, wellness, leadership, and community engagement. She is committed to creating and supporting systems that embrace diversity, equality, inclusion, accessibility, and a fair and just legal system.

Charles Robinson is the Deputy Chief for the Probation and Pretrial Services Office, Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Charles Robinson is the Deputy Chief of the Probation & Pretrial Services Office of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Over the course of more than 20 years, he has worked in both county and federal probation, including supervising a caseload of community supervision clients, training officers and developing systems to support successful implementation of risk instruments, and serving as a chief probation officer. Charles has co-authored several widely used client and officer training programs for community and custodial correctional settings. Among these programs are Decision Points, an open-group cognitive-behavioral program that teaches clients to observe and interrupt thinking that leads to trouble; and Effective Practices in Correctional Settings (EPICS) II, a training program for criminal justice professionals based on behavioral change strategies found to be effective with criminal justice clients. He has extensive experience as a consultant training agency leaders and staff in juvenile and adult correctional settings. He has helped leaders and agencies in the U.S. and other countries better align their community supervision systems with practices proven to exert a positive effect on clients and their communities. Charles has also co-authored several articles that contribute to the research literature supporting effective practices in community supervision.

Joe Winkler serves as the Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections with the Florida Department of Corrections, where he provides oversight to 140 probation offices statewide and direction to correctional staff supervising 150,000 adult felony offenders. He also provides direct oversight to the four Community Corrections Regional Directors, as well as the Bureau of Probation & Parole Field Services and the Bureau of Community Programs. Mr. Winkler started with the department in 2001 as a probation officer. He has served the department in multiple roles holding every certified position and being promoted to his current position as the top person in Florida Community Corrections. Mr. Winkler received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology from Saint Leo University. He serves on the Board of Directors with the Florida Association of Community Corrections and the National Association of Probation Executives. He is the Florida Commissioner of Interstate Compact and on the Board of Governors with the American Correctional Association. Mr. Winkler is a member of the National Institute of Corrections Probation and Parole Executives and the American Probation and Parole Association.