Criminal Justice: The State Of Our Prisons and Jails In NYS Part II

Part of the National Action Network Annual National Convention.

Attendance is free but guests must register at www.nationalactionnetwork.net

Panelist Bios:
Dr. Divine Pryor is currently the Executive Director of the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions located at 510 Gates Ave in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn. The Center offers an alternative voice in the analysis of criminal and social justice issues, by including the combined lived and academic experience and expertise of people who have first hand knowledge of the social, judicial and economic systems that scar so many communities. In 2001 he was appointed by the Council of State Governors to the National Re-entry Policy Council, where he and over 100 national experts produced the most voluminous work in re-entry in the nation. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Legal AID & Defender Association and the National Reentry Policy Council, both of which are based in Washington D.C. He is also Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Community Justice Center of New York and is also Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Policy Cluster for the Black Brooklyn Empowerment Coalition. Most recently, Dr. Pryor was appointed by the Minority Leader of the New York State Senate to Co chair the New York State Anti-Gang Violence Reduction Commission. In addition to his leadership roles on national boards, he is a member of the New York State Re-Entry Advisory Board and the New York City Division of Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. He is also often called to provide consultation and advise Supreme Court Justices, the Brooklyn District Attorneys’ ComAlert (Reentry) initiative and others in the criminal justice field. The Center he has co-founded serves as a national model for formerly incarcerated persons wishing to successfully integrate back into the community after having served time in prison.

Jayette Lansbury is a Mom and an Advocate for Criminal Justice Reform, who advocates for all Criminal Justice Reform but especially for those suffering w/ serious mental illness and autism that find themselves intwined in the unjust criminal justice system. She is the Criminal Justice Chair for NAMI NYS and a member of MHASC ( Mental Health Alternatives to Solitary Confinement). She also belongs to New York State Prisoners Justice Network as well as CAIC (Campaign Against Isolated Confinement) and EMI ( End Mass Incarceration). In addition, she belongs to Prison Families Anonymous. Lansbury has lobbied for SWHU Exclusion Bill and lobbying for HALT Bill and Reform of the “Insane” Insanity Plea. Most importantly, she advocates for her wonderful son and others.

Mr. Five Mualimm-ak is the Executive Director / Founder of the Incarcerated Nation Corp. a collective of previously incarcerated people supporting projects that do direct service to those incarcerated. Five and INC National council facilitate events and classes around criminal justice issues through universities & schools. After being released in 2012 from serving 12 years over 5 of those in solitary confinement , five now works to support those who return to society directly from isolation.

Ricky Jones
After almost 13 years of incarceration, Mr. Jones totally transformed his life around and now is the host of a local radio show called “Unlocked” on Whcr.90.3fm that airs every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:00pm discussing issues around the criminal justice system; he also has a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University and a master’s degree in Theology from New York Theological Seminary. He received his bachelors from St. John’s University and has completed the Management Alternative Training Program offered by NYC Dep.Housing Preservation and Development. He is a certified paralegal and has done training for senior law enforcement (in philosophy and collaborative problem solving), Board of Education, NYC Housing Partnership Chamber of Commerce and he is also a faculty member of two private colleges teaching in philosophy, psychology and African History.

Dr. Vanda Seward is the Program Administrator at the Kings County District Attorney’s
County Reentry Taskforce. Prior to coming back on board at the KCDA’s office she was
appointed by the Governor’s Office to hold the position as Statewide Director of Reentry
Services for New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Dr. Seward has been serving “high risk” populations for well over 25 years. Her
extensive experience includes providing services and linkages to men, women and
adolescents suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness,
unemployment, literacy and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Seward has worked for numerous
community based organizations and government agencies and was one of the first
ASAT counselors for New York State Department of Correctional Services in the 80’s,
where she has worked in a number of prisons at various security levels as a counselor.
She has an extensive history working with the forensic population while serving as
Director at FEGS. She has headed several pilot projects, conferences and committees
to assist the needs of the formerly incarcerated and communities at large. Dr. Seward
has written for the Mental Health News Letter, written a chapter for the book “Reentry
Planning for Offenders with Mental Disorders, Volume ll. ” which is scheduled to be
published in 2015, she has also edited the recent NYC Human Rights Commission’s
resource book “Turning Your Game Around” for those returning from prison. She
received her PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University dissertation “The
Communities Response To Their Formerly Incarcerated Neighbors”. She is a graduate
of Iona College where she holds a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and is also a
graduate of The College of New Rochelle where she holds a B.A. Degree. Vanda has
served as an Adjunct Professor at the College of New Rochelle for twelve years. Dr.
Seward has received many awards and accolades for her work within the Criminal
Justice arena.