Jessica Brown, associate director of the Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School, has been elevated to director of the center. In her new role, Brown will lead efforts to address deficiencies in our justice systems and train the next generation of justice leaders. She will also oversee the statewide, regional, national and international educational and training center for justice reform efforts, including restorative justice.
“We are delighted to name Professor Jessica Brown as director of the Center for Justice Reform,” VLGS President Rod Smolla said. “Her unique blend of academic expertise and real-world experience will undoubtedly drive meaningful change at the center, within the legal system and beyond.”
Brown joined VLGS in 2021 following a 24-year career as a public defender in New England and Vermont, where she navigated both state and federal criminal legal systems. Her appointment marks an exciting chapter in Vermont Law and Graduate School's ongoing mission to effectuate a more inclusive and just society.
In June, the school announced a $975,000 federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for the Center for Justice Reform’s new legal clinic, which merges immigration assistance work and broader justice reform to reduce recidivism, address mass incarceration and improve community-based restorative alternatives at all intercept points, from precharge to postconviction, across the state.