Members/Committees
The State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice (SACJJ) is the statewide resource for the Governor, Legislature, and communities in the fields of juvenile justice, youth services, and delinquency prevention. The SACJJ assists in reviewing, recommending existing and new, applicable research and outcome-based juvenile accountability programs and strategies ranging from prevention and intervention to long-term detention or treatment programs for youth. In addition, the SACJJ supports in reviewing grant applications for the allocation of the Non-Participating State grant funding stream from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in collaboration with Volunteers of America Northern Rockies. The SACJJ is committed to a balanced approach increasing public safety, providing both agency and offender accountability, while affording youth opportunities to develop as responsible citizens.
Council Members
Name
District/City
Expiration
Abbey Kercher
1-Cheyenne
08/31/2021
Abigail Henderson
6-Gillette (Youth)
08/31/2023
Adrienne Freng, Ph.D.
2-Laramie
08/31/2023
Alexandra Bammel
2-Laramie (Youth)
08/31/2023
Chris Jones
4-Sheridan
08/31/2022
Clarence Thomas
9-Ft. Washakie
08/31/2023
Dakota Jackson
6-Gillette (Youth)
08/31/2021
Damon DeBernardi
3-Rock Springs (Vice Chair)
08/31/2021
Erica Wood
6-Gillette
08/31/2021
Gabriel Gerrish
2-Laramie (Youth)
08/31/2023
Gabrielle Messick
2-Laramie (Youth)
08/31/2023
Gary Gilmore
5-Worland
08/31/2021
Jannelle Ordiway
2-Laramie (Youth)
08/31/2023
Jennifer Palser
4-Sheridan
08/31/2021
Justice Orum-Eikanger
4-Sheridan (Youth)
08/31/2021
Karen Solomon
5-Cody
08/31/2023
Logan Christie
5-Cody
08/31/2024
Melinda Cox
9-Lander
08/31/2021
Narina Nunez
2-Laramie
08/31/2021
Nicole Hauser
2-Laramie (Chair)
08/31/2021
Nikki Sweets
7-Casper
08/31/2023
Ronald Howard
9-Riverton
08/31/2024
Shad Bates
8-Torrington
08/31/2023
Stacy Nelson
7-Casper
08/31/2021
Steffany Stephenson
3-Rock Springs (Youth)
08/31/2022
Thomas Rose
9-Dubois
08/31/2021
Vanessa Duran
1-Cheyenne (Youth)
08/31/2023
Ex-Officio Members
Name
Represents
Christina McCabe
WY Attorney General’s Office
Jo Ann Numoto
WY Dept. of Education
Ashley Gregorio
WY Dept. of Health
Jen Davis
WY Governor’s Office
Shawn Sitzman
WY Attorney General’s Office: Div. of Victim Services
Maureen Clifton
Commissioner – WY Interstate Compact for Juveniles
Hon. Dawnessa Snyder
Interstate Compact for Juveniles – WY Judicial Branch
Senator Lynn Hutchings
Interstate Compact for Juveniles – WY State Legislature
Committees
Executive
Created by By-Laws and elected at first meeting of calendar year. Leadership of the council, develops vision and long-term goals, develops meeting agendas, oversees and develops amendments (as needed) to the By-Laws, drafts the Annual Report to the Governor.
Nicole Hauser, Chair
Damon DeBernardi, Vice-Chair
Jennifer Palser
Narina Nunez
Adrienne Freng
Grants (Budget and Financial Review)
Created by By-Laws and elected at first meeting of calendar year.
Nicole Hauser, Chair
Damon DeBernardi
Adrienne Freng
Stacy Nelson
Thomas Rose
Melinda Cox
Janelle Ordiway
Nikki Sweets
Alexandra Bammel
Gabrielle Messick
Gabriel Gerrish
Best Practices
Promotion of and focus on the four core protections (JJDP Compliance Monitoring). Be aware of and notify the Council of compliance visits as scheduled by VOA. Identify resources and services around juvenile justice, who is utilizing best practices, and examine how these resources may be leveraged.
Stacy Nelson, Chair
Damon DeBernardi
Jennifer Palser
Thomas Rose
Nicole Hauser
Erica Wood
Outreach
Responsible for raising awareness of juvenile justice issues; public relations with juvenile justice stakeholders as well as the general public; collaborate with Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA); assists in outreach to youth members; planning and organization of the Council’s annual community award for best practices.
Erica Wood, Chair
Shad Bates
Abbey Kercher
Stacy Nelson
Dakota Jackson
Thomas Rose
*Additional assistance from VOA’s Project Director, Craig Fisgus.
Data
Responsible for formulating recommendations related to comprehensive, meaningful data collection and analysis.
Adrienne Freng, Chair
Damon DeBernardi
Shad Bates
Narina Nunez
Thomas Rose
Melinda Cox
Gary Gilmore
Jennifer Palser
Erica Wood
Legislative
Ongoing tracking of any relevant state and federal legislative issues; assisting in the development of draft legislation by the council (as needed); reviews Council’s state and federal statutory obligations.
Damon DeBernardi, Chair
Clarence Thomas
Thomas Rose
Narina Nunez
Nicole Hauser
Melinda Cox
Youth Members
Provides an opportunity for youth members to become familiar with their role on the Council; recruit youth members; develop ways to better inform the Council about the youth perspective.
Dakota Jackson, Chair
Justice Orum-Eikanger
Steffany Stephenson
New Members Needed
If you are considering serving on the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice, you can find an application at https://governor.wyo.gov/state-government/boards-commissions.
Printed applications may be sent to:
Pamela Perea
Wyoming Governor's Office
200 W. 24th St.
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-5647
[email protected]
2021 Meetings Dates/Locations
1/14-1/15: Via Zoom
4/15-4/16: Via Zoom
6/17-6/18: Via Zoom
9/16-9/17: Via Zoom
11/18-11/19: Via Zoom
This Web site is funded through a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).