Russell Sage College will host a free workshop on community-based justice on January 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on its Albany campus. Attendees will learn more about community-based justice and how alternatives to incarceration can be successful. 

This workshop is ideal for anyone who works in the criminal justice and community-based corrections field or is a student in the field. However, the general public is also invited to attend. The workshop is free but online registration is required.

The workshop follows the launch of the new M.S. in Criminal Justice and Community Corrections program at Russell Sage in fall 2023. This online degree program is the first of its kind in the nation.

The January 27 workshop will cover a variety of topics, from mental health and substance abuse to re-entry after incarceration and bystander intervention training.

Workshop Schedule

9-9:15 a.m. Welcome  

9:15-10:15 a.m. Alternatives to Incarceration                     

  • Stephen Signore, Schenectady County Public Defender
  • David Soares, Albany County District Attorney
  • David Graham, Office of the Albany County District Attorney, Community Justice Outreach Center
  • Robert Ward, Co-Project Manager, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), Trinity Alliance

10:15-11 a.m. Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment                  

  • Stephen J. Giordano, Ph.D., Commissioner of Albany County Department of Mental Health
  • David Soares, Albany County District Attorney

11:15 a.m.-Noon Victim and Survivor Impact          

  • Amy LaPlante, Resource Coordinator, Domestic Violence Court (Albany City Criminal Court); Program Director, Justice for Families Grant (Office on Violence Against Women)
  • JoLynn Backes, Community Education Coordinator, Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center

1:15-2 p.m. Re-Entry after Incarceration

  • Heidi Renaud, Parole Re-Entry Coordinator, Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office
  • Erica Anderson, Re-Entry Coordinator, Albany County Department of Mental Health
  • Stephanie Barrett, Employment and Training Specialist, Youth and Workforce Services, City of Albany

2-2:45 p.m. Bystander Intervention Training in Schools

  • JoLynn Backes, Community Education Coordinator, Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center
  • Amanda Bastiani, Title IX Coordinator and EEO Specialist, Russell Sage College (One Love, MVP)

2:45-3 p.m. Closing

Panels on Community-Based Justice

The panels for this event will focus on how justice is served in our communities, including alternatives to incarceration, services for justice-involved youth and adults, victim and survivor impact, and the return of formerly incarcerated individuals to our communities. Community organizations and agencies will be available to provide information on their programs and answer questions.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Community-based Justice Workshop 

When: Saturday, January 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Russell Sage College’s Albany Campus, 140 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York, Kahl Campus Center, Room 224

Who: Ideal for anyone who works in or studies the criminal justice and community-based corrections field. Those interested from the general public are also welcome to attend.

Admission: The workshop is free but online registration is required

Recent News

November 22, 2024

Assistant Provost Wins Award, Russell Sage Students Deliver Presentation at New York State Physical Education Conference

Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives Peter Stapleton, Ph.D., received an Amazing People award at the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) annual conference held in Verona, New York, November 20-23, 2024. The Amazing People award honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions in the  disciplines of physical education, […]
Read More
November 19, 2024

Returning Russell Sage Student Says Son — Also a College Student — Inspires Her to  Finish Degree She Started Nearly 20 Years Ago

Liza Kerwin started Russell Sage College in the early 2000s, after earning an associate degree at Hudson Valley Community College. She left Russell Sage two classes shy of her bachelor’s in sociology.   At that time, she went to work for the employer she would stay with for 17 years until she was affected by COVID-related […]
Read More
October 30, 2024

Russell Sage College Becomes First College in Nation to Partner with The Center for Positive Education, Ensuring Education Graduates are Ready for Today’s Classroom

Fueled by a new partnership with The Center for Positive Education, all Russell Sage College students who graduate from teaching and school counseling programs in the Esteves School of Education will enter the workforce with training in Positive Education, preparing them to address the social and emotional learning needs of today’s students and manage their […]
Read More