Opal West is a senior associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. As part of the Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group, her work focuses on youth probation, the disposition most often imposed on young people who enter our nation’s juvenile justice system. West is helping to transform youth probation nationally into a focused intervention that promotes personal growth and long-term success for youth who pose significant risks for serious offending. Also, she guides juvenile justice agencies to treat families as partners.

West began her career as a juvenile probation and parole officer in Louisiana. Working for state government there, she led efforts to improve conditions of confinement in detention centers across the state. She also led statewide expansion efforts for the JDAI® approach to building a better and more equitable youth justice system and was appointed to serve on a task force to develop standards of care for state-run secure facilities and local detention centers. West is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Dante Green is a program associate at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. His focus on youth probation and juvenile justice system transformation includes helping design and administer the Foundation’s Applied Leadership Network (ALN). ALN seeks to equip leaders with the skills and strategies needed to advance powerful, measurable and equitable results, such as reducing the system's footprint, decreasing out-of-home placement, promoting healing and strengthening partnerships with community groups.

Before joining Casey, Green was a mentor for Thread Baltimore, a nonprofit organization that supports young people with system involvement. Green earned a master’s degree from the University of Baltimore Graduate School of Public Affairs. While there, he interned at the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. In his role with the Conviction Integrity Unit, he contributed to the exoneration of three African American men who had been imprisoned for nearly 30 years.

Naomi Goldstein, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Co-Director of the JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology, and Director of the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform (JJR&R) Lab at Drexel University. Dr. Goldstein collaborates with community stakeholders to use social science research to improve juvenile justice policy and practice. She uses research to guide large-scale system change, leads implementation projects to disseminate justice reforms, and evaluates effects of new programs and policies. She also provides training and technical assistance to help juvenile justice agencies develop and implement new policies and practices to improve outcomes for youth and communities.

Dr. Lovins is a Principal at JSP. He earned his PhD in Criminology from the University of Cincinnati, and he is the current President for the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). Prior to JSP, Dr. Lovins worked for Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) as the Assistant Director. He was tasked with developing and implementing agency wide change plans to drive increased successful completion rates.

Dr. Lovins has been instrumental in introducing the referee/coach conversation to the field. In 2018, Dr. Lovins and colleagues published the initial article “Probation Officer as a Coach: Building a New Professional Identity” in Federal Probation. Since then, he has delivered hundreds of conference presentations and invited talks regarding the referee/coach concept. Dr. Lovins routinely consults with agencies regarding their implementation of a coaching framework within the context of evidenced-based interventions.

Dr. Lovins has received the 2020 Edward J. Latessa Practitioner Research Award from the American Society of Criminology-Division on Corrections and Sentencing for his continued body of work in helping community corrections move forward. He has also been honored with the Dr. Simon Dinitz Public Service Award for his work and dedication in helping correctional agencies adopt evidence-based programs and the David Dillingham Award, as well as a being recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus from the University of Cincinnati. His publications include articles on risk assessment, sexual offenders, effective interventions, and cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Danielle Lipow is a senior associate at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, specializing in youth justice reform at the state and local level. Currently, her focus is on probation, the most common disposition in youth justice, and significantly and safety reducing youth incarceration, especially for youth of color. Over a 20-year career dedicated to youth justice, she has particular expertise in data analysis, strategic planning and community partnership. Before joining the Casey Foundation, Lipow was an attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center for nearly ten years, where she played a leading role in civil rights and civil liberties lawsuits. Lipow graduated from the University of Chicago and New York University School of Law.

Jeannette Bocanegra is the Executive Director of Justice for Families, focusing on transforming the juvenile justice system to prioritize young people and their families. She advocates for reallocating resources to marginalized communities of color impacted by ineffective systems. Jeannette observed deteriorating schools and limited parental involvement, inspiring her to advocate for families with youth in the justice system.

She co-authored "Families Unlocking Futures," a comprehensive study examining the youth prison system. Jeannette initiated the groundbreaking Parent Support Program in partnership with the NYC Department of Probation. With over 25 years of experience, she mobilizes families as a speaker, consultant, and organizer.

Jeannette has consulted for the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Initiative and received recognition for her work. She serves on advisory boards for various juvenile justice initiatives and strives to give youth a second chance and empower families for success.

Jeremiah Murphy-Redbird, a shining example of opportunity and support's transformative power, started his journey with the David's Harp Foundation in 2019 during his time in Juvenile Hall. Displaying resilience and determination, Jeremiah embraced the program, marking a significant achievement by graduating from the Student Studio program in 2021.

A year later, he successfully navigated probation and began his role as a Media Associate within the Biz Pod program. There, he produced the monthly David's Harp Digital Download newsletter, showcasing his impressive talents. Jeremiah's vibrancy, personified in his infectious smile, complements his ambition.

Today, he's launching his own media production business, "Recording In Progress", a testament to his personal growth and creative exploration, inspired and nurtured by his journey with the David's Harp Foundation's Biz Pod program.

Brandon Steppe is a transformative force in the lives of Opportunity Youth in his hometown of San Diego, California. As the founder of The David’s Harp Foundation (TDHF), Brandon fosters a community where young people have access to industry-standard media production tools, workforce training, and trusted relationships with adults.

As the Executive Director of TDHF, Brandon has tirelessly served his community. The foundation has grown from its humble beginnings in his father's garage in Southeast San Diego to a state-of-the-art studio facility located in Downtown San Diego’s East Village. He has forged numerous corporate and community partnerships, leveraging the power of music and media production to create a nurturing and creative environment where young people can flourish, both in art and in life.

Marcus White is a credible mentor with Pierce County Juvenile Court. He knows first-hand the overwhelming challenges growing up in inner-city communities and succeeding against all odds. He spent most of his childhood in juvenile detention, group homes and institutions, where he got a second chance at life. He took advantage of every program the DOC had to offer, turning his place of prison into a campus of education. Seventeen years later, he was a new man ready to take on society, obtaining a career as a Union carpenter, becoming a homeowner, father, entrepreneur, mentor, and an inspirational figure in the community he was once a menace to.

Stephen Bishop is associate director for probation and system transformation with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and part of the leadership team of its Juvenile Justice Strategy Group and Center for Systems Innovation. Bishop leads the Foundation’s investments and initiatives with youth justice system and community partners to ensure that young people exposed to the legal system can realize their potential, even when they make mistakes and violate the law in serious ways. Bishop’s portfolio includes leading Casey’s efforts to transform youth probation, end the youth prison model and reduce inappropriate and unnecessary use of secure detention.

Bishop started his career in youth justice as a juvenile probation officer and supervisor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, followed by more than a decade leading statewide training, technical assistance and research programs at the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission. The Pennsylvania governor has appointed him to the state’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee and the PennSERVE Advisory Board. He is the chair of the state’s Juvenile Racial and Ethnic Disparities Committee and a past president of the Pennsylvania Association on Probation, Parole and Corrections. Bishop has a Master of Science in Administration of Justice.

Layla Bermudez is a Probation Counselor at Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, WA and has been with the agency since 2021. She is one of the first hybrid Probation Counselors at the agency, working with young people in both Early Intervention and Probation. The role emphasizes ongoing support for families that begin in diversion and may ultimately end up in the criminal court system. As a hybrid Probation Counselor, Layla is able to improve rapport to better serve young people and families navigating the youth justice system.

Prior to joining Pierce County Juvenile Court, she was a Detention Officer for King County Detention Youth Services for over 4 years. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Master’s degree in Criminology, Law, and Society.

Layla is passionate about family engagement, connecting young people to pro-social outlets in their community, and advocating for young people from various cultural backgrounds.

Mark Froes has worked for Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, WA since 2006 as a Juvenile Probation Counselor. Over the past 17 years, his caseloads have included local sanctions, Alternative Detention Services, sex offender, and Opportunity Based Probation (OBP). He is currently working with young people who are placed at moderate or high-risk and are standard probation or OBP.

Mark graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, OH with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in Juvenile Delinquency. His commitment to supporting young people began after college, where he worked in group homes for young people with developmental disabilities, within the mental health field as a Functional Family Therapist (FFT), and as a BECCA (ARY/ Truancy) Probation Officer.

Susan Miller is a Probation Counselor at Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, WA and has been with the agency since 2007. Over the past 16 years, Susan has worked with young people who are placed at greater risk, including specialized caseloads with youth sex offenders and those who are chemically dependent. Her current role also includes being a Care Coordinator with the Pathways program.

In addition, she is involved with Opportunity Based Probation, a member of Shared Leadership, and is a Quality Assurance Specialist. In 2018 she was part of the first group to receive a Whatever it Takes Award from the Annie E. Casey foundation for her commitment to bettering outcomes for youth and keeping them in their communities.

Prior to joining Pierce County Juvenile Court, Susan worked with young people in therapeutic foster care. Susan graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services and a minor in Criminal Justice.

Angie Thompson is a Probation Supervisor at Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, WA and has worked in the youth justice field for the past 31 years. She oversees several programs related to the Court’s probation transformation work, including Opportunity Based Probation, Pathways to Success and Alliances Programs, and Diversion enhancement projects. Angie is part of the Shared Leadership Team and Equity Team who work to nurture a heathy, positive workplace culture so that youth and families served by the Court receive more equitable results. She is a graduate of Gonzaga University with a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice.

Scott MacDonald is the president of Justsolve and consults in the areas of juvenile and criminal justice reform. He is a retired Chief Probation Officer from Santa Cruz County, California and has 40 years of experience in adult and juvenile probation. He works closely with the Annie E. Casey Foundation in the implementation of juvenile justice reforms to transform probation and reduce incarceration and out of home placement. Scott holds a Master of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz. He has lectured nationally and has taught at San Jose State University and the University of California at Santa Cruz in juvenile and criminal justice reform.