Our Team

Our team is built on individuals with various backgrounds in the criminal justice field.

Jessica Ireland

Senior Manager

Ms. Ireland was formerly the Pretrial Services Program Manager for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. During her tenure, the Pretrial Services Program implemented strategic and operational efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of pretrial screening, release, and supervision practices. Notable highlights include working collaboratively with justice system stakeholders to move from a resource to a risk-based system of release, successful implementation, and validation of the Public Safety Assessment, and the development of a graduated response to violations framework for those placed on supervision. These efforts have successfully worked to reduce unnecessary detention and improve pretrial outcomes. Additionally, under her leadership, Mecklenburg County Pretrial Services became the first stand-alone jurisdiction to receive national accreditation from the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies. Ms. Ireland has two decades of experience in both state and local government, with a focus on pretrial justice reform efforts. She holds a BA in Sociology, a BS in Criminal Justice, and an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Our Team

Alison Shames

Director

Anke Mann

Associate Director

Cherrie Smith-Raines

Operations Manager

Denise Symdon

Senior Manager

Dr. Kelvin L. Banks

Senior Manager

Edith Han

Digital Manager

Erica King

Senior Manager

Holly Ziemer

Director of Communications

Jenna Mackey

Program Manager

Jessica Ireland

Senior Manager

Keilah Joyner

Program Associate

Kristen Persaud

Operations Assistant

Lakisha Fisher

Program Manager

Leilah Gilligan

Director

Marilyn Van Dieten

Senior Advisor

Matt Alsdorf

Associate Director

Melanie Breault

Communications Manager

Orleny Rojas

Senior Manager

Richard Stroker

Director

Samuel Steed

Operations Assistant

Spike Bradford

Communications Manager

Tanya Anderson

Senior Manager

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