Justice Reinvestment Council
The Marion County Justice Reinvestment Council advises governing bodies on policy matters related prison reentry and diversion programs. The Council was originally formed in 2009 under the name Marion County Reentry Council and was established to provide support and leadership to the Marion County Reentry Initiative and serve as an advisory board to the Sheriff. The Justice Reinvestment Council oversees Justice Reinvestment in Marion County. Justice Reinvestment is an approach to spending resources more effectively with the goals of reducing recidivism, decreasing prison use, protecting the public and holding offenders accountable.
Justice Reinvestment Council duties and expectations:
Governance: Assure ongoing leadership to help sustain the Marion County Reentry Initiative, and Justice Reinvestment Initiative;
Community Awareness: Keep reentry and prison diversion programs at the forefront of public conversations and provide stakeholders and the public with a realistic portrait of the extent to which persons experiencing reentry are successfully integrating into the community;
Sustainability: Provide advice and direction to the Sheriff's Office on potential resources for reentry and prison diversion services; and
Removing Barriers: Identify barriers to reentry and prison diversion success at the local, regional, state and federal levels and propose solutions for removing them.
Meeting Information
Council Members
Sherry Bensema, Lyons Rural Fire District
Jessica Howard, Chemeketa Community College
Alison Kelley, Liberty House
Tim Murphy, Bridgeway Recovery Services
Jimmy Jones, Mid-Willamette Valley CAA
Kristy McIntosh, Salem Health
Shannon Wilson, Public Defender of Marion County
Jim Hope, Union Gospel Mission
Treven Upkes, Salem Police Department
Marion County Representatives
Undersheriff Jay Bergmann, Chair
Health Program Manager Ann-Marie Bandfield
Commissioner Colm Willis
Commander Mike Hartford, Vice Chair
Director Christopher Eppley
District Attorney Paige Clarkson
Sheriff Nicholas Hunter
Prior Meetings
Minutes July 27, 2020
Minutes October 26, 2020
Minutes January 25, 2021
Minutes April 26, 2021
Minutes July 26, 2021
Minutes January 24, 2022
Minutes April 25, 2022
Minutes July 25, 2022
Minutes April 24, 2023
Minutes July 24, 2023
Upcoming Meetings
January 22, 2024
Resources & Information
Justice Reinvestment Initiative Plan
Justice Reinvestment Council Bylaws
Marion County Public Safety Coordinating Council Website
Marion County Reentry Initiative Website
Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, Justice Reinvestment Website
Governor's Reentry Council Website
For more information, please email Peggy Lowery at
plowery@co.marion.or.us