Dr. Ronald F. Day

A New Path Forward: Losing our Obsession with Recidivism

Synopsis: The U.S. has been obsessed with recidivism, even though this outcome is reliably a measure of failure. This discussion will center on the need to emphasize desistance and other metrics that focus on how people successfully navigate the reentry experience, in spite of the systemic and formidable barriers they often face in that journey.

Our Speaker:  Dr. Ronald F. Day is the Senior Vice President at the Fortune Society. Ronald is passionate about reentry, promoting desistance, dismantling mass incarceration, and addressing the stigma of incarceration.

He provides executive oversight to several departments including, the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy (DRCPP), which advocates to reduce reliance on incarceration, promote model programing for the incarcerated population, change laws and policies that create barriers for successful reintegration, and foster a just and equitable criminal justice system; The Center for Research, Inquiry, and Social Justice (CRIS-J), which conducts research to advance policy and practices that improve public safety and the welfare of our communities; Employment & Education Services program (EES), where individuals receive comprehensive education, vocational, and career development training, and its Transitional Services program, a partnership with the New York City Department of Correction (NYC DOC) and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ). The initiative provides pre and post release services to people incarcerated in NYC jails. Ronald has been the recipient of several awards, including the Citizen’s Against Recidivism Bridge Builder Award and the Justice Research Fellowship. Ronald has a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the CUNY Graduate Center/John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College (CUNY). Ronald is also formerly incarcerated.