Interim Director, Chief Operating Officer
Franklin County, OH

Melissa Pierson brings over 30 years of experience in criminal justice and grants administration, with a career spanning leadership roles at the Common Pleas Court, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and currently as Interim Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs. 
She holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Dayton and is certified as a trainer in Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE), SAMHSA’s Trauma Informed Care, and Mental Health First Aid. Melissa also served as an Adjunct Instructor for Tiffin University for over six years and is currently pursuing certification as a Certified Government Financial Manager®.
Throughout her career, Melissa has been instrumental in advancing smart justice initiatives within Franklin County. Her contributions include the launch of the first Rapid Resource Center, the implementation of pre-release medication-assisted treatment in the jail, the Bridge Respite program, and the Pathways to Healthy Living pre-release initiative – all aimed at improving public safety and outcomes for justice-involved individuals through innovative, evidence-informed practices.

Grants Administrator
Essex County, MA

Leah Harrington is a seasoned public safety and grants administration professional with over 28 years of experience serving the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, most recently as Assistant Superintendent and Grants Administrator at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. Throughout her career, Leah has specialized in building strategic partnerships, securing outside funding, and managing complex programs that advance community safety and rehabilitation.

She has successfully procured, administered, and overseen more than $20 million in federal, state, and local grants, supporting initiatives such as mental health collaborations, opioid recovery programs, reentry and vocational training, and body-worn camera implementation. Her expertise spans proposal development, fiscal compliance, contract management, policy writing, and internal auditing. Beyond financial stewardship, Leah has directed inmate programs, supervised community corrections centers, and developed evidence-based services addressing substance abuse, education, and workforce readiness. Leah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a Master of Science in Administration from Boston College. She is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to strengthen organizations and expand access to vital community resources. 

Chief Deputy of Corrections
Franklin County, OH

Chief Deputy Geoff Stobart is the Chief Deputy of Research, Development, and Major Projects for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Columbus, Ohio. With a career spanning over 27 years, Chief Stobart has gained wide and deep experience within the Sheriff's Office. Prior to his taking his current position,  he managed the Office’s largest division and was responsible for the custody and care of more than 2,000 inmates in two jails and for the security of all individuals working and visiting in Franklin County government buildings. He has been assigned to every Division of the Office spending time in Patrol, Community Relations, Internal Affairs, and Investigations.

Chief Stobart obtained a Graduate Certificate in Management Development from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations of Cornell University and is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command. He serves on the Franklin County Re-Entry Coalition, and the Franklin County Criminal Justice Planning Board. 

Sheriff
Essex County, MA

Kevin F. Coppinger became Essex County Sheriff in January 2017 and is currently in his second term in office. 

Sheriff Coppinger has close to 40 years of law enforcement experience in Essex County. He started his career as a police officer in Lynnfield, before joining the Lynn Police Department in 1985. After coming up through the ranks, he was named Chief of Police in 2009 and held that position until he was sworn in as the Essex County Sheriff in 2017.

One of his first priorities was to increase training opportunities for staff, at all levels, to ensure the safety of all who work, visit, or reside within correctional facilities. His mantra for all employees is “Honesty. Integrity. Respect.”  Sheriff Coppinger credits the hard work, service, and professionalism of his employees for the successes seen in Essex County.

Society today demands that correctional facilities strive to address the root causes of crime, including Substance Use Disorder, Mental Illness, and other contributing behaviors while an individual serves out their sentence.  Essex County offers a wide range of related programs, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for those fighting addiction; the Correctional Opportunities for Personal Enrichment (COPE) program offering an innovative option for those needing mental health services; and the Supporting Transitions and Re-entry (STAR) program which is a new community-based program in partnership with dozens of local partners to help  individuals remain free of the justice system.

Sheriff Coppinger holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the Northeastern University and a Master of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.  He is also a graduate of the 203rdSession of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia as well as the FBI-LEEDA Program. 
 
Sheriff Coppinger is an active member of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Sheriffs’ Association, Essex County Chiefs of Police Association, Police Executive Research Forum, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy Associates.  He is a member of the Massachusetts Police Training Committee, as well. Coppinger is also an Advisory Board member for the North Shore Community College’s Criminal Justice Program; Violently Injured Police Officers Organization (VIPO); and UTEC, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to the success of today’s youth. 

Sheriff
Chesterfield County, VA

Sheriff Leonard oversees one of the largest Sheriff's Offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving a region of 430 square miles with a population of over 380,000. The Chesterfield Sheriff’s Office is composed of a force of over 340 employees with an annual budget in excess of $35M. His responsibilities primarily include the Security Division providing 24/7 security of 400 inmates at the Chesterfield County Jail (an additional 500 inmates at Riverside Regional Jail), the Court Services Division, which operates 17 courtrooms in Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and sees over 600,000 people pass through every year, and Civil Process which handles nearly 90,000 papers annually.

Sheriff Leonard began his law enforcement career with the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a deputy in the Jail, Juvenile Courts, and Transportation divisions before transitioning to the Chesterfield Police Department in 1982, where he became a patrolman. He rose through the ranks within the police department to the position of Major in command of all uniformed operations before his retirement in 2012 with 30 years of service. In 2013, Sheriff Leonard began his career with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, and on February 1, 2014, was appointed Sheriff by the Chief Circuit Court Judge of Chesterfield County. The citizens of Chesterfield County later elected Sheriff Karl S. Leonard in a special election and subsequently in a general election.

Sheriff Leonard received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Buffalo State University and his master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Suffolk (MA) University.

Sheriff's Office Director, Behavioral Health Division
Chesterfield County, VA

Kerri Rhodes is a licensed mental health clinician in Virginia with 30 years of experience, personally touched by the opioid epidemic and fueled by the loss of her son, Taylor. With a powerful message and rapidly growing platform, Kerri is challenging and changing how America treats and addresses mental health, trauma, substance use disorder, and how pain is managed. Kerri has spent the last 29 years working in community mental health, schools, the justice system, and private practice. She brings to bear that experience and expertise, in addition to the lessons Taylor taught her, as she educates and empowers. She shares her message and those tools that would have helped Taylor in his battle. Her platform has reached schools, prisons, healthcare, and national leaders. The invitations to speak, collaborate, and teach are growing and have included Weill Cornell Medicine, Shatterproof, Discovery Channel Plus, Senator Patrick Kennedy, Psychology Today, the National Safety Council, and The Executive Office of the President. Kerri is currently the Director, Behavioral and Mental Health Division in the Chesterfield County Jail and works with the H.A.R.P program, which helps to heal those incarcerated with substance use and mental health issues. 

Sheriff
Franklin County, OH

Sheriff Dallas Baldwin is a retired Lieutenant with the Columbus Division of Police after serving for 28 years on the force and an additional 10 years as reserve.  As a patrol officer, Sheriff Baldwin worked throughout the city of Columbus - with particular focus on the Ohio State University campus area, west side, and the short east.  He also served as a detective on the Robbery Squad, and as a member of the SWAT team.
 
In 1990, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, working patrol, SWAT, and the Narcotics Unit.  In 1995, Sheriff Baldwin was promoted to Lieutenant, and assigned to the west side. In addition, he worked with the Strategic Response Bureau and served on the Ethics Board. 

Middleton Jail Superintendent
Essex County, MA

Aaron W. Eastman has served as Superintendent of the Middleton House of Correction (MHOC) and Jail for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) since 2017. He began his career with ECSD in 2000 as a Correctional Officer progressing steadily through various positions that expanded his skills and leadership, now with 25 years of experience in law enforcement. Starting his career as a Correctional Officer, he has come up through the ranks and was first named Superintendent in 2016. He has a strong background in care, custody, and today he is responsible for all day-to-day operations to include all correctional and law enforcement duties for over four hundred staff and eight hundred inmates. He was also a reserve Police Officer in Gloucester MA.

 Dedicated to the care and custody of those incarcerated at MHOC, Superintendent Eastman is responsible for all day-to-day operations of over 400 staff and 800 inmates. His priority is reducing Use of Force (UOF) incidents through de-escalation techniques, Critical Incident Training (CIT), and defensive tactics training. These efforts have led to a 32.5% reduction in UOF incidents from 2022 to 2023. Superintendent Eastman’s team-centered approach to training and education has created a safer environment for both staff and inmates alike.

Superintendent Eastman holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Springfield College. He is a certified Massachusetts Counsel Against Discrimination (MCAD) Investigator and Trainer; a Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Instructor through the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee; and an active member of several professional organizations, including FBI-LEEDA Program, American Correctional Association, Internation Association of Chiefs of Police, and American Jail Association. 

Special Sheriff
Essex County, MA

Sheriff's Office Medical Director
Chesterfield County, VA

Dr. Georges Mantovani Gay, MD, is an experienced Internal Medicine physician with a focus on Hematology and Medical Oncology. With over 34 years of experience in healthcare, he currently serves as the Medical Director for the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, where he has championed public health initiatives for the past 20 years. Dr. Gay has been instrumental in launching the HARP program, aiding over 3,500 individuals in addiction recovery, and has secured millions in grants to expand mental health services and Buprenorphine/Methadone treatment in the jail. His dedication has been recognized with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award. Additionally, he shares his expertise as the Medical Advisor for the Medical Assisting Program at the Medical Careers Institute in Richmond, Virginia, empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals. Dr. Gay also serves as a board member of SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment) Inc., whose mission is to engage our community in working together to prevent and reduce substance abuse.