Evans Participates in Criminal Justice Forum

Deputy Secretary for Reentry Kelly Evans participated on a panel at an event at Northampton Community College called The Color of Justice – A Forum on Criminal Justice Reform & Reentry. The discussion took place on June 13. The purpose of the panel discussion was to discuss reentry reform proposals and reentry facts and to educate the public on the impact of the current penal system on those incarcerated and attempting to reenter society successfully. The goal was to recommend changes at the county level aimed at reducing reasons for incarceration, improving prison conditions and addressing the need for more use of successful reentry programs aimed at reducing recidivism.

Evans was joined on the panel by Marvin Boyer of NAACP Easton Branch; Northampton County Chief Probation Officer Marie Bartosh; Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods Hasshan Batts; Executive Director Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Nancy Dischinat; Bonnie Winfield of Journey Home Project; and reentrant Robert Apgar. The panel moderator was attorney Ed Angelo. This event was heavily attended by the public and was well received. Many people stayed well after to continuing discussing the ideas, proposals and various initiatives well after the conclusion of Forum discussion.