My passion for the criminal justice system began in high school during an internship at a victim services organization. Listening to countless stories of interpersonal harm and violence, I felt compelled to gain a deeper understanding of these issues.

 

This drive led me to two university internships as a probation and parole officer, where I visited several jails and spoke with more than 50 justice-involved individuals. Hearing their firsthand experiences gave me an unfiltered view of the revolving door of the justice system and the institutional harm disproportionately affecting communities of color living in poverty.

This experience fueled my commitment to studying correctional health, culminating in my doctoral dissertation on traumatic brain injuries among youth at Rikers Island Jail. From there, my research expanded to conditions of confinement, procedural justice, and alternative models to incarceration. While this work exposed deep systemic inequities, it reinforced a critical truth: by the time individuals enter the justice system, the damage has already been done.

 

This realization shifted my focus upstream, leading me to now focus on examining law enforcement training, violence prevention, alternative crisis response, and equitable, community-driven solutions to improve public health, safety and well-being.