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We are so excited that Dr. Aaron Kinzel has joined JustLeadershipUSA as a Research Fellow!
“Dr. Aaron T. Kinzel is a nationally recognized educator, researcher, and criminal justice reform advocate whose life embodies the power of transformation. Once incarcerated for more than a decade for a violent confrontation with law enforcement, he has risen to become a faculty member at the University of Michigan and a research collaborator with Yale University, specializing in corrections, reentry, and public policy. Drawing from both his lived experience and academic expertise, Dr. Kinzel has spent nearly 20 years designing trauma-informed curricula, advising policymakers, and consulting on justice reform initiatives across the United States and abroad.
“He has visited over 100 correctional facilities worldwide, developed educational programs for incarcerated students and correctional staff, and delivered keynote addresses at national and international conferences. His work bridges the gap between research and practice, using data to inform policy while ensuring that reforms remain grounded in the real human experiences of justice-impacted individuals. Dr. Kinzel’s mission is clear: to dismantle systemic barriers, expand opportunities for education and employment, and prove that people are far more than their past mistakes.
[We need] a massive investment in education and workforce training for people inside and returning from prison
“Q: You’ve gone from spending over a decade incarcerated to earning your doctorate and holding positions at both the University of Michigan and Yale. What has that journey taught you about resilience, opportunity, and systemic change?
“A: My journey has taught me that resilience is forged in the fire of adversity but only truly grows when someone is willing to open a door for you. I’ve met countless people in prison with extraordinary talent and intelligence who lacked access to opportunity.
“An important part of my success has been through being mentored by various criminal justice system actors. Retired Michigan Department of Corrections Director Pat Caruso was instrumental in connecting me to opportunities for consulting work with the U.S. Department of Justice and other national agencies to share my story. She has mentored me for over 10 years and given me a new vision on correctional reform. Retired Honorable Judge Donald Shelton took a risk on hiring me at the University of Michigan as a faculty member shortly after I earned my master degree at this institution. Judge Shelton has helped me become a better faculty member and pushed me to finish my dissertation and supported me when others would not be open to helping someone with a criminal history.
“More recently after earning my doctoral degree, I reconnected with people at JustLeadershipUSA, which is a national nonprofit that pushes criminal justice reform and is led by justice-impacted people. I was hired by them as a research fellow that will collaborate on a project with Yale University to try and understand cardiovascular health issues with justice impacted people and their families. This demonstrates how justice impacted people are stronger in connection with their peers to make effective change in their communities. …
“Q: With nearly 20 years of experience providing technical assistance and working on policy change, what do you believe are the top two reforms that would most immediately improve community safety and justice outcomes?
“A: The first is a massive investment in education and workforce training for people inside and returning from prison, because education is the single strongest factor in reducing recidivism and increasing economic stability. The second is eliminating mandatory minimums and overly punitive sentencing laws that fracture families and perpetuate generational harm. People should be punished and removed from society when they pose an immediate threat, but many can return home safely after serving a fair sentence to pay for their transgressions from society. These changes would reduce prison populations, strengthen communities, and provide a pathway to real public safety that does not rely on mass incarceration.”
Thank you so much for supporting our mission here at JLUSA! Your donation helps to support our network of leaders working to dismantle oppressive systems and uplift people and families impacted by mass incarceration across the country.
All charitable donations made to JLUSA are fully tax deductible, as allowable by the IRS.
