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Jeanne Woodford Speaks on the death Penalty

Do you know the financial cost of the death penalty? The death penalty hurts public safety and jeopardizes our ability to protect our families and our communities. In our evidence based world why do we continue to utilize a punishment that is so costly and fails to deter crime when we know what works? We have a choice to make, spend our money on the ineffective death penalty or spend our money solving and preventing crime. There is something for everyone to dislike about the death penalty so isn’t it time to end it? 

We have a choice to make, spend our money on the ineffective death penalty or spend our money solving and preventing crime. There is something for everyone to dislike about the death penalty so isn’t it time to end it?

Jeanne Woodford is the Executive Director of Death Penalty Focus, a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the death penalty and its alternatives. Ms. Woodford previously served as the Undersecretary and Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and Warden of San Quentin State Prison, where she oversaw four executions.

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Ms. Woodford has more than 30 years’ experience in corrections and law enforcement as an administrator, author, and public speaker. She was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Undersecretary of the CDCR, where she oversaw an eight billion dollar budget, brought accountability to the department through data-driven decision-making, and advocated for rehabilitation programs and a sentencing commission for California.

As Director of the California Department of Corrections, Ms. Woodford oversaw a budget of six billion dollars and provided leadership for 32 state prisons, 38 conservation camps, more than 185 parole units, and contracts with 50 public or private community-based facilities or centers. She led efforts to increase rehabilitation programs, address overcrowding, improve health care and mental health care, expand family visiting programs, and create policies and programs appropriate for women.
She began her career as a California correctional officer in 1978 at San Quentin State Prison and rose through the ranks to be appointed Warden of San Quentin State Prison by Governor Davis in 1999. As the Warden of San Quentin State Prison, Ms. Woodford was responsible for 5,800 prisoners, 1,500 staff, and a budget of 110 million dollars. She developed and implemented programs for prisoners including The Success Dorm, the first reentry program in a California prison. She also served as Chief Deputy Warden and Associate Warden at San Quentin State Prison.

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Ms. Woodford also served as the Chief Adult Probation Officer for the San Francisco Adult Probation Department and oversaw a budget of 11 million dollars. She retired from this position to work on criminal justice policy and reform.

She currently is a Senior Fellow at the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice, teaches in Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program, and will be teaching at Hastings Law School. She has served as a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Law, Stanford Law School, Stanford School of Public Policy, Santa Clara School of Law, and various community groups. She has testified before the U.S. Congress and the California Legislature.
Ms. Woodford serves on the boards of Walden House and The Prison Industries Authority and has been recognized with Death Penalty Focus’ Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award as well as numerous other awards for her work to reform the criminal justice system in California. She is widely quoted by the media, including The New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, National Public Radio, The Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee, and The San Francisco Chronicle, and has published opinion editorials in The Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee, and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Social Get together 6:15 PM
Dinner 6:45 PM
Program 7:15 PM

Location: Crow Canyon Country Club
711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA 94526 (925) 735-5700

Members & Invited Guests: $25
Non-members: $30 ($25 for dinner and $5 requested donation to help offset program costs)
Presentation only $5 (requested donation)

Please email Jim Donnelly that you are coming by Thursday, January 18 (we need a ‘head count’ for the dinner). Thank you for your help.

RSVP: To make certain you have a dinner, please RSVP.
Mail checks, made out to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526
Or call him at (925) 570-9289

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