Intensive Session: Embracing the Future: Integrating AI into Practice

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Joseph Arvidson, MS, with over 36 years in Corrections, is the Executive Director of The Paragon Group, advancing evidence-based criminal justice practices globally. He co-created the TIDES Supervision Model, integrating trauma-informed care with desistance theories, to enhance correctional interventions and approaches. Joseph also founded The Criminologist Media Group, and produces and hosts The Criminologist podcast. An adjunct faculty member at two Minnesota universities, he is also certified to train numerous core correctional skills and practices. His work has impacted professionals domestically, and he has influenced practitioners in the international sphere as well, from Europe, to the Middle East, and Australia.

Simon is the former CIO for the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). A role he held for more than 6 years and retired from that position after almost 30 years in the Canadian Public Service. On his retirement, he joined Telio as their Chief Research Officer and Director New Business Development, where he creates and implements strategic approaches in new markets, and builds relationships with jurisdictions, researchers and other stakeholders to advance thought leadership in the correctional space. He is currently the Corporate Chair of the Corrections Technology Association and previously served as Secretary. In addition, he is the Chair of the IT Network for the International Corrections and Prison Association as well as member of the Technology Committee at the American Probation and Parole Association. He serves as an Advisory Board Member to the SAW Project which is dedicated to creating a worldwide data-sharing platform designed to bring positive change to the global supervision industry through international collaboration. In addition to the CORCAN Advisory Board at CSC, CORCAN is a special operating agency within the Correctional Service of Canada ( CSC ). It offers the employment and employability program to federal offenders throughout their sentence.

Marcus was named Associate Director for Court Services Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) in Washington DC in 2017, following a 25-year career with the Virginia Department of Corrections. He served as President of the National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) from 2014-2018 and is currently President-elect of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). He also assists in facilitating the American Probation and Parole Association Leadership Academy. His agency (CSOSA) embraces the approach of responsible utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it has the potential to revolutionize community corrections by making processes more efficient, effective, and equitable.

Patricia O’Hagan is the co-founder and former CEO of Core Systems, a global leader in prisoner self-service technology. With over 20 years of experience in corrections technology, she has advised prison and correctional services worldwide on digital transformation. Patricia is an international speaker and has authored numerous publications in Corrections Technology. She has expertise in Biometrics and Human Identity and contributed to the development of UK national occupational standards for the industry. Currently, Patricia is an active member of the APPA Technology and International Relations Committees and chairs the AI subcommittee. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2013 Royal New Year Honours list.

Cristel Tullock, is the Chief of the San Francisco Adult Probation Department. Chief Tullock holds a MSW and a BA in Criminology and Corrections. With 25 years of experience in community corrections, she has trained with Kaiser Permanente's Psychiatry Department and contracted with California’s Mental Health Department to develop reentry strategies for sex offenders. Her expertise spans local, state, and national criminal justice reforms, and she has led a variety of programs designed to help justice-involved individuals rebuild their lives. Among her many accolades, she received the San Francisco District Attorney’s Victim Services Award from Kamala Harris in 2007. Additionally, she graduated from the APPA Leadership Institute in 2016 and is an active member of both the APPA AI Committee and the APPA Technology Committee.

Eric is Group Leader for the Equivant Justice Group, comprised of three companies serving the justice field – from automation of courts to community supervision, pretrial, prisons and jails, treatment courts and lab information systems. In his current role, Eric is a leader within Constellation Software/Volaris on AI initiatives and education. Eric has been the Chair of the APPA Technology Committee since 2018, and together with 25+ other committee members develop programs and educational content designed to aid practitioners in learning about and applying emerging and applied technologies. The Tech Committee recently formed an AI Subcommittee, which is sponsoring this session and is currently working on a Four Pillar framework for Responsible Use of AI. The Tech Committee has also sponsored an initiative, PAPDeX, to develop and advance data exchange standards for the criminal justice field. PAPDeX is being pursued in partnership with the IJIS Institute.

Louise Wasilewski is CEO of Acivilate, a women-owned business (WBE) providing rehabilitation software to justice, health and human services agencies. Acivilate’s mobile friendly app, Pokket, helps justice agencies work with human services agencies to improve outcomes for vulnerable people by empowering staff and individuals for better outcomes. Wasilewski has spent thirty years in technology innovation, and was a member of the MPEG committee for digital video control systems. Wasilewski is a member of APPA, the Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance, and the National Criminal Justice Association. She has spoken at the American Correctional Association. She was published in Policy and Practice, the magazine for human resource professionals. She is passionate about improving criminal justice outcomes because it is an issue that has affected her family. Ms. Wasilewski serves on the board of St. Max’s, a long term care provider for ex-offenders. Ms. Wasilewski holds a B.Eng in Aerospace System Engineering, an MBA from Emory University, and five patents.