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WSU professor to head Spokane criminal justice reform efforts

Jacque Van Wormer
Jacque van Wormer

Spokane County and city officials intend to hire Jacque van Wormer, assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology, to lead the initial implementation of criminal justice reforms recommended by a blue-ribbon panel last winter.

Van Wormer is expected to be hired under a $26,000, yearlong contract to serve as project manager for instituting recommendations in the 60-page report by the three-member panel. She said her work in recent years has revolved around reform efforts in other states, and said she is eager to help Spokane implement changes.

Those changes could reduce the high cost of criminal justice, at the same time providing offenders with tools to turn their lives around.

Van Wormer has master’s and doctoral degrees in criminal justice from WSU. She also has experience working in the field before joining academia.

More about the reform project plan