Betsy Pearl is an associate director for Criminal Justice Reform at American Progress. Pearl came to American Progress from the U.S. Department of Justice, where she served as a policy adviser in the Office of Justice Programs. In that role, her work focused on advancing innovative public safety interventions in the field, including evidence-based strategies for reducing unnecessary confinement, expanding diversionary options, and improving public trust in the justice system. Pearl also served as an adviser to the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, a coalition of federal agencies focused on removing barriers and expanding opportunities for justice-involved individuals. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Pearl was a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Pearl holds a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts in American government from Georgetown University.
5 Discussions That Shaped the Justice Reform Movement in 2020
While more must be done to shrink the footprint of the U.S. criminal justice system, the national dialogue around reform during summer 2020 has inspired transformative ideas and tangible policies that can be built on moving forward.
Reimagining Federal Grants for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform
As the movements to end mass incarceration and police violence gain momentum, the U.S. government must overhaul its approach to funding criminal justice reform and public safety.
How To Reinvest in Communities When Reducing the Scope of Policing
As cities reevaluate the role of policing, the bipartisan Justice Reinvestment Initiative offers lessons for cities on prioritizing meaningful investments in community-driven safety.
What We Should Expect of the Police: Experts Weigh In On Recent Police Violence
The killing of George Floyd and the nationwide protests against police brutality have ignited a debate about the appropriate role and scope of policing in American communities.
Police have a responsibility to change their practices amid the pandemic to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among the public and law enforcement officers.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic intensifies, officials must be vigilant in educating and persuading the public to adhere to stay-at-home orders, only using the criminal justice process as a last resort.
