Criminal defense attorney and researcher committed to building a legal system that is equitable and just and honors the dignity of all people. She leads MNJRC's Pretrial Best Practices project.

Data-driven advocate and researcher with a history of serving the Little Rock community with a focus on educational disparities experienced by incarcerated youth in Pulaski County, Arkansas. His interests have been homelessness, domestic violence, juvenile courts/detentions, and public policy. He also works as a consultant on issues including equity in hiring practices, nonprofit evaluation, data analysis, and broadband equity.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities graduate of philosophy. She has a background of working with victims/survivors of domestic violence and serving her communities through various nonprofits.

Public health social worker (MPH, MSW, LGSW) with research interests including
alternatives to the carceral system, violence prevention, disability justice, and community-driven system change. Mackenzie also does research with the UMN Institute on Community Integration and is a crisis advocate at Women's Advocates.

PhD student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. His research interests include understanding how alternatives to policing and incarceration can improve community safety and improve individual and community health and well-being. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, going on walks, cycling, and trying new recipes at home.

M.S. in Education Policy and Director of Parent Programming at Jeremiah Program, focused on disrupting generational poverty. Research interests include education, gender and racial equity, and professional development within school systems.

Journalist currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Minnesota. Her work as a reporter and editor has focused on injustice in the criminal legal system as well as education issues. Previously, she was an Editor and Development Coordinator for The Appeal, and she co-authored a book about a notorious RICO case in Georgia that criminalized educators.

Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University. His research examines the intersections of punishment, crime, and inequality, with a focus on quantitative methodologies and causal inference.

Sexual and reproductive health justice advocate (MPH-Maternal and Child Health) dedicated to collaboratively building a world where bodily autonomy and safety are fully guaranteed. Kailee is a sexuality health educator and mentor at Annex Teen Clinic and firmly believes that those closest to the issue are those closest to the solution.

Clinical psychology PhD student at Palo Alto University and lead Behavioral Crisis Responder with the Behavior Crisis Response team in Minneapolis. His research interests and experience have been at the intersection between global mental health, human rights violations, and the criminal justice system. Specifically researching the crisis of violence as a public health issue.

Graduate student at the University of St.Thomas studying counseling psychology. She has a background in leading workshops in jail settings.

J.D. Candidate, '25, University of Minnesota Law School, MPH Candidate, '25, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and Fulbright-Nehru Scholar.

Student at Washington University in St. Louis studying English with a Creative Writing focus and Drama. Avery is passionate about telling the untold story of minority groups through creative writing, playwriting, and acting.

Social worker, artist and PhD Student in Social Welfare at Hunter/Graduate Center of City University of New York (now based in MN). Jenny has more than 20 years of experience working in the youth development field, including leadership positions at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the LGBT Community Center, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, and the Center for Anti-Violence Education.

Graduate student at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, studying urban and regional planning with a specialization in race, housing, and community development. They're currently working as a graduate research assistant with the Center of Urban and Regional Affairs researching property vacancies and barriers to community-oriented redevelopment.

LLM graduate from Penn State Law and Bachelor of Laws from the Universidad del Norte in Columbia. She has a background in legal research on topics such as transitional justice, the pretrial process, and the legal liability of the State.

Thoughtful leader in DEI, anti-racism, and access. Sharieka believes in the power of collective voices to advance change and correct narratives. She is pursuing her master's in advocacy and political leadership at Metropolitan State University. She is an avid leader in her community, championing changes for causes that benefit society.

Student at Carleton College studying Political Science and Psychology. Zaara has experience as a research assistant studying the intersection between mental health and incarceration.