The Washington State University Common Reading Program welcomes Spokane’s Jacqueline van Wormer to discuss “Reforming the criminal justice system: national and local efforts” at 4:30 p.m. Mon., March 7, in Todd 216. The lecture is free and open to the public.
An assistant professor in the WSU Spokane Dept. of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Van Wormer will describe her efforts leading criminal justice reforms in Spokane County. They advocate for health-based treatment for those in incarcerated due to mental-health and substance-abuse issues.
In 2009, Van Wormer was named the State of Washington’s inaugural “champion for change” for her work involving juvenile justice.
She delivers numerous presentations across the country on issues related to courts, addiction, treatment, and adolescent brain development. She researches drug courts’ focus on reducing instances of relapse among nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders, and has worked with dozens of drug-court teams to assist in the planning and operation of alternative models to traditional sentencing.
The WSU Common Reading Program hosts expert guest lectures, film showings, and other events that explore the topics raised in this year’s chosen book, “Just Mercy,” by Bryan Stevenson. Since 2006, the common reading has stimulated academic discussions in first-year courses, classrooms, and beyond, touching the academic lives of thousands of WSU first-year and other students.
Read more about van Wormer’s visit, the program, the book, and additional events at https://CommonReading.wsu.edu.
