Bridget D.

Background

About Bridget D.

Leveraging my expertise in addiction recovery & criminal justice analysis to enhance collaboration between behavioral health & criminal justice agencies- Track record of successfully partnering with government officials & community leaders- Demonstrated policy research experience- Proficient in data analysis - Expertise in substance abuse & criminal justice. As part of my research at CUNY Graduate Center, I partnered with the Suffolk County Police Department to conduct a case study of the SCPD’s anti-trafficking task force. This involved extensive collaboration with high-ranking officers, agency officials, and victim advocacy organizations. My resulting paper was accepted for presentation at the American Sociological Association annual conference. Prior to beginning research in criminal justice, I worked at a prison diversion program for women with substance addictions. I led psychoeducational groups on emotion regulation and substance abuse recovery. Additionally, I helped parents navigate the child welfare system in the hopes of reuniting with their children, submitting court reports on their behalf and providing advocacy before judges. Ultimately, over 90 percent of my clients successfully reunited with their children. Aside from the above, I also spent an additional 5 years as a teacher in a low-income school. As I got to know the ins and outs of my students’ lives, many of whom were all-too-familiar with the criminal justice system, I learned to appreciate the high stakes involved when it comes to policy making. As a result, I understand the far-reaching implications of policy analysis, and I seek to meaningfully contribute to long-term change.