[This Program is scheduled on Eastern Time Zone]
Criminal Justice Reform
צדק צדק תרדף
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof
Justice, justice you shall pursue.
(Deuteronomy 16:20)
Please join us to hear three experts speak about criminal justice reform. They will relay their experiences working with the legal system, and will provide their ideas on transforming the processes. Our speakers include a financial services branch manager who, with decades of experience volunteering in the prisons, is committed to ending mass incarceration. We also have the Brennan Center’s Senior Counsel, who leads research on crime trends and mass incarceration, and also advocates for criminal justice reform. Finally, we have a Measures for Justice researcher, who supports police data transparency efforts, and who uses her expertise in data analysis to help drive reform.
Featured speakers are:
1. Robert Lankin, J.D., CFP, CEP, Branch Manager
Financial Services
Title: My Jewish Position on Ending Mass Incarceration
BIOGRAPHY
Inspired by four decades of volunteering by visiting Jewish Incarcerated men at a nearby prison, Bob Lankin has become an activist for criminal justice reform, ending mass incarceration, and creating a safer, sounder society. Bob has been an active member of the Jewish Community for six decades, serving his synagogues and Men’s Clubs.
Bob has been a member of the Pennsylvania Bar since 1976, serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Corrections Committee, is active in the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Domestic Affairs Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council and is a member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. He has spoken to attorneys at Gratz College, spoke at and ran programs for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, numerous synagogues, and dozens of service clubs.
Bob is currently a board member of the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms, in Pike County Pa., a past board member of Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park Pa., a past Master of the Richard Vaux Brotherhood Lodge #126 of the Pennsylvania Freemasons, a past District Governor of Rotary International District 7450 in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and is an active supporter of numerous other charitable causes.
Bob is an attorney and a Certified Financial Planner, having been a financial advisor for nearly forty years. He resides with his wife of 47 years, Holly, in Elkins Park Pennsylvania. The Lankins have two married daughters and two grandchildren.
2. Ames Grawert, Senior Counsel, Justice Program
Brennan Center for Justice
Title: Data vs. Narratives: Bail Reform, Public Safety, and Recent Developments in Criminal Justice Policy
BIOGRAPHY
Ames Grawert is senior counsel and John L. Neu Justice Counsel in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. He leads quantitative and policy research focused on trends in crime, and the collateral costs of mass incarceration. Additionally, he advocates for criminal justice reform policies at the state and federal levels.
Previously, Grawert served as an assistant district attorney in the Appeals Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he reviewed and litigated claims of actual innocence in addition to his appellate work. Before entering public service, he was an associate at Mayer Brown LLP, where he represented criminal defendants pro bono in post-conviction litigation.
3. Kayla Macano, Senior Research Associate
Measures for JusticeTitle: The Importance of Using and Understanding Data to Drive Reform
BIOGRAPHY
Kayla Macano is a Senior Research Associate with Measures for Justice. She joined MFJ in January 2022, following her tenure with the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Rochester Police Department, where her knowledge of policing and data analysis informed several local research and evaluation projects. In her current role, Kayla serves as research lead on MFJ’s Commons Police pilot project, overseeing data management, assisting in the development of a codebook and standard operating procedures, and collaborating with partner agencies. In addition to supporting police data transparency efforts, Kayla collaborates with MFJ’s research leadership to engage the public around criminal justice data and gather additional insight for project metrics.
Zoom link will be sent upon registering.
Registration is open to WL members (in the USA & Canada), you must log in (https://www.wlcjmembers.org/member_login.php) to register for this program. If you need assistance, please contact the office (405) 870-1260.
Participation in this program is a benefit of your membership.
Questions?
Laurie Silverblatt
WLCJ Resolutions and Public Policy Committee Chair
