Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR) is offering a free virtual training: Parents and Caregivers in Pretrial: Implementing the Women’s Justice Commission Recommendations.
The training is on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET. The deadline to register is Wednesday, March 25.
About the Training
This online training is essential for pretrial practitioners seeking to implement “whole family” strategies that lead to better outcomes for women, children, and communities. The training is grounded in the findings of the bipartisan Women’s Justice Commission and resources co-created with CEPP’s Justice Policy Consultants. This session draws on robust evidence and lived experience to address the distinct challenges for women involved in the criminal legal system who are primary caregivers. Together, we will focus on implementing the commission’s primary recommendations from its recent Stronger Families, Safer Communities report. A key focus is avoiding unnecessary pretrial detention driven by poverty, rather than community safety, and applying practical decision-making tools to support the stability of mothers and their families.
Learning Objectives
- Amplify commission findings: Review the Women’s Justice Commission findings on the pretrial detention, charging, and sentencing of women.
- Advance whole family strategies: Understand pretrial practices at the personal, communal, and systemic levels that can minimize harm and disruption to children and families
- Apply practical tools: Use the new APPR policy and practice guide, Caregivers and Their Children, co–authored with CEPP’s consultants, as you integrate these strategies.
Training Faculty
Stephanie Akhter, director, Women’s Justice Commission
As director of the Council on Justice’s 17-member Women’s Justice Commission, Ms. Akhter works to establish consensus on policies to safely reduce the number of women in the justice system and improve outcomes for women and their families. Prior to joining the council, she was chief of staff of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy dedicated to promoting evidence-based policy solutions for some of our nation’s most intractable social problems. As part of her work, Ms. Akhter has delivered multiple presentations to a variety of government agencies and policy organizations, including the U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities, and the American Probation and Parole Association.
Erica King, senior manager, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. King directs initiatives that are part of CEPP’s National Resource Center on Justice-Involved Women (NRCJIW). Ms. King focuses on addressing the unique needs of impacted women across the justice system, including pretrial justice, sentencing, corrections, and community supervision. She delivers technical assistance to jurisdictions and agencies with a focus on evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches and creates resources to help the field better understand the implications for women who are involved in the criminal justice system.
Consuela Gaines, justice policy consultant, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Gaines served 22 years at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel. She has been home since 2016. For nearly as long as she has been free, she has been a chapter organizer for Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), which does policy, legislative, and advocacy work for currently and formerly incarcerated people. While incarcerated, she represented women as a jailhouse lawyer, Big Sister, tutor, advisory council member, club president, and more. Now, she advocates for and supports incarcerated people. Consuela has received two awards for advocacy work in her community.
Keilah Joyner, program associate, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Joyner supports CEPP’s National Resource Center on Justice-Involved Women, including the Gender-Informed Practices Assessment and Gender-Responsive Policy and Practices Assessment initiatives. She also provides programmatic and training support to APPR and CEPP’s Domestic Violence portfolio.
Pamela Neely, justice policy consultant, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Neely is a dedicated advocate with a strong background in criminal justice and community support. She is actively involved with the Women’s Community Justice Association and the Justice 4 Women Task Force. Ms. Neely is also a member of New Hour for Women and Children, where she completed the Emerge Program and participated in the “Write/Right to Heal” group. Her training with Emerge ignited a deep passion for advocacy. Having been involved in the criminal justice system throughout her life, Pamela has since made significant positive changes and is now pursuing a degree in criminal justice at Suffolk Community College. Her professional experiences include prevention case management, grant-funded case management, pre- and post-HIV/AIDS testing, and work as a social justice coordinator.
Ruby Carter Welch, justice policy consultant, Center for Effective Public Policy
Ms. Welch is a motivational speaker, criminal and restorative justice advocate, Healing Hostess, and founder of F.E.L.O.N (Formerly Incarcerated Empowered Leaders Overcoming Negative Stigmas). After experiencing firsthand, the harmful effects of serving seven years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, she vowed to educate her community about the disparities of incarceration and its lasting effects on individuals. She previously served as the justice campaign manager with Dream.Org and as a community health coordinator with the University of Arkansas for Medical Science, where she educated detainees at the Pulaski County Detention Center on various health risks and concerns. She is a 2023 alumna of both JLUSA’s Leading with Conviction program and Columbia University’s Women Transcending Collective Leadership Institute. As an ambassador for #Cut50 in 2019, she was instrumental in passing and signing into law the Dignity for Incarcerated Women in Arkansas.
Application Process
If you are interested in attending the training session on April 1, please complete the training registration by Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
APPR will make selection decisions immediately after the registration deadline. Confirmed participants will receive additional information about the training, including how to attend the online session and access related resources.
Please direct any questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.
