JASON ZIEDENBERG
Washington
Summary
Criminal justice researcher, policy analyst and strategist. Served as a federal policy director, and research director for criminal justice reform organizations and governmental agencies.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director of Research and Publications
DC Justice Lab
03.2023 - Current
- Executes research and publications projects for a team of law and policy experts advocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia's justice system
- Project manager of an online library on policing, corrections and court processes, and communications products to fuel narrative-shifting work on DC justice issues
- As part of the team, briefed DC Council and Executive staffers on crime and corrections trends and led trainings on research and policy development for people directly impacted by the justice system
Director of Research and Publications; Federal Policy Director
Alliance for Safety and Justice
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Staffed the team at Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) when probation and parole reforms were being considered by lawmakers in multiple states at once
- Developed the report on the Texas probation system with researchers and stakeholders that became the principal tool used to advocate for community supervision reforms
- As part of the team, I contributed to policy changes designed to reduce probation terms in two states, made more than 500,000 crime survivors eligible for victims' compensation, created pathways for millions of people to be eligible to expunge and seal their old criminal records, and dramatically expanded funding for violence prevention programs
Director of Research and Policy
Justice Policy Institute
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Following a previous tenure as Associate and Executive Director, returned in 2014 to manage consultants and staff to develop a dozen research products to drive justice reform
- I worked with juvenile corrections directors, probation chiefs, and advocates to develop a roadmap for the implementation of Raising the Age of juvenile court jurisdiction in the lead up to New York, Michigan and North Carolina enacting this type of law change
Researcher, Writer, Convener, and Project Leader
U.S. Criminal Justice Reform Endeavors
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Author of groundbreaking position papers and director of innovation initiatives for government agencies, crime victims' organizations, and advocacy groups
- I led community supervision leaders through a process to develop position papers for the U.S
- Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Corrections on the future of the community supervision field
- Completed projects for the National Center for Victims of Crime, the NAACP, the Open Society Foundations Board of Directors, and the ACLU
Director, Policy and Research, Juvenile Justice
M+R Strategic Services
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Key advisor on policy to a foundation consortium that funded more than a dozen successful statewide juvenile justice reform campaigns
- Principal convener and connection point between juvenile justice stakeholders and advocates
Researcher and Evaluation Officer
D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Advanced research, policy, and communications project for one of the nation's most innovative juvenile justice agencies
- Served as a key connection point between the agency, the Council of the District of Columbia, stakeholders, and advocates
- Served on the leadership team during a time when the agency reformed youth community supervision practices
Policy and Communications Manager
Multnomah County Oregon
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Key aide to the Director of a probation, parole, and juvenile agency nationally known for seeking to adopt evidence-based practices and for shrinking the probation footprint
- Staffed an implementation process that led to fewer people being jailed for minor breaches of conditions
- Member of the leadership team
- Managed crisis communications for the department
Associate Director / Executive Director
Justice Policy Institute
01.1997 - 01.2008
- Hired by the founding director to serve as the first staff of one of a handful of think tanks working on juvenile and adult justice policy at the tail end of the 'tough-on-crime' era
- Recruited by the Board to serve as Executive Director
- Managed six staff, policy fellows, and a dozen consultants to complete a cutting-edge body of work
- Raised one million dollars from philanthropic partners annually
Education
Master of Science - Journalism
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM SCHOOL
New York City 05.1993 - 01.1994
BA -
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
01.1988 - 01.1993
Skills
Problem-solving
Project management
Operations management
Team management
Project coordination
Strategic planning
Verbal and written communication
Websites
Communications
- Keynote speaker and presenter at more than one hundred criminal justice conferences.
- Author of more than 100 position papers, press releases, opinion pieces, magazine articles, journal articles, webpages, and various types of content to drive justice reform projects.
Breakthrough Research
Developed research that expanded the knowledge base in the field and was a catalyst for moving tens of thousands of young people out of adult jails and prisons.
Leadership Experience
- Leader in nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
- Change agent with a proven track record of designing and driving strategy to accelerate justice reform.
- Key partner with major philanthropic initiatives.
Timeline
Director of Research and Publications
DC Justice Lab
03.2023 - Current
Director of Research and Publications; Federal Policy Director
Alliance for Safety and Justice
01.2018 - 01.2023
Director of Research and Policy
Justice Policy Institute
01.2014 - 01.2018
Researcher, Writer, Convener, and Project Leader
U.S. Criminal Justice Reform Endeavors
01.2012 - 01.2018
Director, Policy and Research, Juvenile Justice
M+R Strategic Services
01.2011 - 01.2012
Researcher and Evaluation Officer
D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
01.2010 - 01.2011
Policy and Communications Manager
Multnomah County Oregon
01.2008 - 01.2010
Associate Director / Executive Director
Justice Policy Institute
01.1997 - 01.2008
Master of Science - Journalism
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM SCHOOL
05.1993 - 01.1994
BA -
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
01.1988 - 01.1993
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