About Us

The National Incarceration Association (NIA) was born from the personal story of its president and chief executive officer, Kate Boccia and her husband Frank. Their son Daniel spent years incarcerated in a medium security prison in Georgia. Daniel fell into an all-too-common spiral of drug addiction despite the best imaginable parenting efforts and an otherwise stable upper middle-class suburban Atlanta environment. Kate openly reflects on that moment of the night they first received “the call” alarming them that their child had been arrested. Her “journey” was suddenly the same as a growing quiet number of tens of millions of American families.

FAMILIES CHANGE

the moment they receive THE CALL...
families change

MONTHS PASS

and the family realizes that the shock and trauma of incarceration has to be managed
because new questions now define their days.
Months pass

YEARS PASS

and the family now realizes that he might be coming home soon. Tears. Reflection. Preparation.
Of course you’re happy. But your worries continue anew.
years pass 2

The NIA exists to make INCACERATION = RESTORATION for all.

 

The family story of mass incarceration is in the center of every page of our American story. It is the story of endless journeys through failed policies and outdated norms.  It’s the story of unsettled work that we have capacity to fulfill.

OUR STORY

Public Awareness and Informed Empathy Campaigns

More than one-third of all American families are directly impacted by the continual consequences of having been incarcerated. Although unknowingly in most cases, the other two-thirds are at least indirectly impacted as taxpayers, business owners and neighbors. Effectively spreading this message is critical in narrowing public opinion gaps. It gives employers and policy makers permission to be more assertive with smarter ideas.

Public Awareness Mass incarceration is a problem The NIA Georgia 3

Partner Asset Integration Projects and Initiatives

When the NIA launches or gets involved with any project or initiative, our aim is to demonstrate how partners can work together more effectively and in ways that advance common interests and yield measured results. 

Disruption Pattern

The NIA formula coaches a disruption of this pattern

Cohesive Formula

NIA coaches this kind of cohesive formula

Direct Constituent Services and Support Program

In the absence of systematic and comprehensive reforms to rehabilitate how offenders think and behave, this program is designed to intervene at the point of inmate and/or family outreach with a specific concern or problem. Each point of such sought-out intervention creates for the NIA a new Constituent Case File and an opportunity to help manage repair and personal development as well as facilitate resolutions.

Support Programs Incarceration Ga The NIA

OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST

  1. Neighborhood-Based Pre-Arrest Diversion strategies and coordinated initiatives
  2. Assessment at Hearing and Sentencing for comprehensive case-managed rehabilitation
  3. Bail Bonding Reform to eliminate disproportionate impacts and erosion of presumption of innocence
  4. Automatic Record Restriction and Arrest Record Expungement when deemed safe and appropriate
  5. Corrections Facility Reform and rethinking current relationships with Private Prison Contractors
  6. Strong review of the need for Mandatory Minimums in that such undermines problem resolution
  7. Community-Centered Family Restorative Justice Centers with practical wrap-around services
  8. Reasonable Housing for All and Neighborhood Assimilation where screened to be appropriate
  9. Elimination of Voter Disenfranchisement in that such has no correlation to public safety
  10. Decriminalizing Mental Illness and Adjudicating Drug Addiction Behavior as Symptoms of Disease

MISSION & VISION

To help families navigate the journey of incarceration with positive outcomes, and to push innovations throughout justice systems to correct, rehabilitate, cure and restore, for greater public safety for all.

Our vision is that the justice and corrections system of the United States becomes a system of dignity, safety, and progressive personal improvement for all involved.

GOAL 1

End the absurd economic and social cost of mass incarceration as we know it from the perspective of families and community.

GOAL 2

Build models of resolution and rehabilitation to change mindsets and behavior for the better public interest and safety.

GOAL 3

Help integrate the actions and assets of stakeholders in the pursuit of evidenced-based solutions to reach visible results.

DRIVEN BY CORE VALUES

EMPATHY

The demonstration of respect and caring about the plight and circumstance of those whose lives and personal stories are different from others.

DILIGENCE

The focused pursuit of right, fairness, justice and innovation, without tiring, slowing down or conceding to difficulty.

RESPONSIBILITY

The demonstration of steadfast loyalty to the NIA mission and the commitment to be transparent, accountable, ethical and professional in doing this work to change lives.

PASSIONATE LEADERSHIP

Kate Boccia

Kate Boccia

Chief Executive Officer

She developed the first Citizens Advisory Panel for Georgia Department of Corrections which set the tone for her work in launching the NIA. Never settling for a passive answer to a challenging question she continues to push innovations in systems that impact families.

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Roland Washington

Roland Washington

Chief Operating Officer

He’s a public policy consultant and social innovator with more than 32 years of experience in building operational and management systems, and leading community interests in a number of social impact campaigns and initiatives.

STAFF

70% of NIA Staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council have lived the experience of being incarcerated or shared that experience with an immediate family member. More than 90% of us have devoted most of our working years to justice and social reform.
Diana Ashworth

Diana Ashworth

CPR Intake Development Manager
Jenna Bailey

Jenna Bailey

Executive Media & Content Coordinator
Linda Beaulieu

Linda Beaulieu

Special Projects Manager
Michelle Boatright, CS-MH, CS-AD, CPS-WH, FPM, CAMS, CARES

Michelle Boatright, CS-MH, CS-AD, CPS-WH, FPM, CAMS, CARES

Case Management Coordinator
Rev. Dr. Willie Alfreida Capers, MPA, MDIV, DMIN

Rev. Dr. Willie Alfreida Capers, MPA, MDIV, DMIN

Case Management Coordinator
Randy Carpenter

Randy Carpenter

Chief Data & Technology Officer
Andrew Curtin

Andrew Curtin

Marketing Director
Karen Daniel, BEd; MEd; CARES-AD

Karen Daniel, BEd; MEd; CARES-AD

Case Management Coordinator
Dr. Kelly C. Dreger

Dr. Kelly C. Dreger

Executive Actions Coordinator
Ersela Evans

Ersela Evans

CPR Intake Coordinator
Terence Franklin

Terence Franklin

Case Management Coordinator
Maqueta Roberts, MSW, MCJ, LCDC-I

Maqueta Roberts, MSW, MCJ, LCDC-I

Case Management Coordinator
Stacy Hurd Allen

Stacy Hurd Allen

CPR Intake Coordinator
Shyvonne Kirton-Anderson

Shyvonne Kirton-Anderson

Housing Manager
Veronica Kulon

Veronica Kulon

Resource Development Assistant
Jessie Mabrey, CPS-MH,FPM,CPS-AD

Jessie Mabrey, CPS-MH,FPM,CPS-AD

Program Development Manager
Shante Mottley

Shante Mottley

Senior Housing Manager
Chris O'Neill

Chris O'Neill

Special Projects Manager
Leesha Reineke

Leesha Reineke

CPR Intake Coordinator
Thomas Sachy

Thomas Sachy

CPR Data Entry Specialist
Brittany Samuels

Brittany Samuels

Re-Entry Administrative Assistant
Mark Samuels

Mark Samuels

Transportation/Program Specialist
Meredith Smith

Meredith Smith

Special Projects Manager
Henry Schultz

Henry Schultz

Associate Editor
Alicia Teague, M.Ed., NCC

Alicia Teague, M.Ed., NCC

Chief Development Officer (CPR)

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Linda Tettamant

Linda Tettamant

Chief Communications Officer
Paul Wolfe

Paul Wolfe

Chief of Corporate Relations
Kevin Weeks

Kevin Weeks

Special Projects Manager
Markieta Williams

Markieta Williams

Chief People Officer
Pastor Roy Williams, BS, M.DIV, CCJS, NAFC

Pastor Roy Williams, BS, M.DIV, CCJS, NAFC

Case Management Coordinator
Claudia Zimmermann

Claudia Zimmermann

Chief Resource Officer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel Boccia

Daniel Boccia

Board of Directors Emeritus - Posthumously

Whole-Way Housing was first conceptualized by the late Daniel Boccia, who in doing so proudly referred to himself as “President & CEO, Felon, Returning Homes, LLC.” Daniel scoffed at the common idea of “half-way” housing that signals (he felt) to the human that only part of what is needed could be expected

Burrell Ellis, Esq.

Burrell Ellis, Esq.

Board of Directors

Attorney and Systems Reform Activist. Former twice-elected CEO of one of the largest counties in the state of Georgia. Former President of County Executives of America, Southeast Region Director, of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Chair of NACo‘s Large Urban County Caucus

Rev. Ewell Hardman, M.Div.

Rev. Ewell Hardman, M.Div.

Board of Directors

More than 30 years of service as a spiritual teacher and healer. A Certified Master Addiction Counselor with Arise Recovery and Behavioral Health Center in Georgia. Former Clinical Supervisor and Director with The Summit Counseling Center and MARR Addiction Treatment Centers.

LeAnne Jackson, J.D.

LeAnne Jackson, J.D.

Board of Directors

A trust and assets management expert, proficient in insurance and multibillion dollar investment strategies, as well as code compliance, settlement negotiations and resource connectivity.

Karen James

Karen James

Board of Directors

Policy reform advocate with more than 33 years of federal government administration and human resources experience. An EEOC specialist that co-manages public affairs for the NIA.

Monikah Kelly

Monikah Kelly

Treasurer

Treasurer & CFO, and a partner with DV Marshall & Associates, LLC., with more than 20 years of tax accounting and paralegal experience

Tiffany Kirk

Tiffany Kirk

Secretary

Executive Director of Common Good Atlanta and Founder of Project Restart; her focus is on providing higher education opportunities for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people along with financial education and entrepreneurship training to promote professional development

Janis Mann, Esq.

Janis Mann, Esq.

Board of Directors

Attorney at Law; founder of the Mann Law Group, former Georgia Public Defender, National and Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Member

Beverly Martin

Beverly Martin

Board of Directors

Retired as a Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit where she served for 11 years. Former US District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, US Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia

Sona Nast, LCSW, LSOTP

Sona Nast, LCSW, LSOTP

Board of Directors

Social Worker, Family Sustainability Activist and Specialized Treatment Professional for the incarcerated

Truth Graf

Truth Graf

Ex-Officio

Secretary & Director of Public Relations, and an activist and advocate for social justice with more than 30 years of radio, television, film and print media.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chrystal Brown, Ph.D.

Chrystal Brown, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

A Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Qualified Mental Health Professional, and Re-entry Programs Manager with more than two decades of experience working with non-profit and government agencies in Transformational Leadership, Diversity Training, and Behavioral Therapy.

Amanda Cryer

Amanda Cryer

Advisory Council

A social impact entrepreneur and acclaimed filmmaker focused on transforming criminal justice stereotypes and illuminating the tragic reality of the prison industrial complex. Amanda is the co-founder of Big Change Makers, LLC

Kit Cummings

Kit Cummings

Advisory Council

Activist, Conflict Mediator, Author, Founder &President of the Power of Peace Project (“POPP”)

Billy Joe Holmes

Billy Joe Holmes

Advisory Council

“Big Billy” as he is widely known, is a business owner and frequently requested speaker to audiences across several states against systems that fail to correct and rehabilitate.

Susan Jacobs-Meadows

Susan Jacobs-Meadows

Advisory Council

Director, Canine Cell Mates; Fulton County’s Jail Dogs Program

Monalisa Johnson

Monalisa Johnson

Advisory Council

Reform Advocate and Founder of Parents with Incarcerated Children, Inc., owner of Sierra Productions, an audio/video & production logistics company, featured star of the A&E Production “60 Days In”

Sarah Lageson, Ph.D.

Sarah Lageson, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

Sociologist and Assistant Professor; Rutgers University-Newark School of Criminal Justice. Published researcher and grants recipient examining social and behavioral sciences; the criminal justice system, technology, inequality, crime data accuracy and “digital punishment”

Sandi Langley

Sandi Langley

Advisory Council

Senior business consultant specializing in ERP system implementations. Advisor to Restart Coweta, an organization which serves those affected by homelessness. Former Director of International Internship Program, serving Children at Risk in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Recipient of the US Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Active member of local recovery community.

Angela H. Marshall

Angela H. Marshall

Advisory Council

Former Adjunct Professor, Essex County Community College and Special Instructor of Rutgers University’s NJ STEP Program for Edna Mahan Correction Facility for Women, more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement, workforce development, criminal justice programs management, community corrections and reentry.

Cynthia Webb McGarity

Cynthia Webb McGarity

Advisory Council

Justice Reform advocate, business owner and manager. Long-time community organizer, founder, and Executive Director of Rehoboth Family and Community Services for justice impacted families.

Keesha Middlemass, Ph.D.

Keesha Middlemass, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

Brookings Institution Fellow and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Howard University. Author of the award-winning book, Convicted & Condemned: The Politics and Policies of Prisoner Reentry. Widely published researcher of lived experiences and policy analyses to develop policy alternatives.

Jose Morales

Jose Morales

Advisory Council

Retired Army Airborne Infantry and retired 22-year veteran of Georgia Department of Corrections. Long-serving warden of several prisons including Georgia's highest Maximum Security facility, and now a committed advocate for systems reform.

Lauren Phillips

Lauren Phillips

Advisory Council

Lauren is a passionate advocate for justice impacted people including returning citizens and people in recovery. As the owner of Phillips Insurance Solutions, her work includes finding affordable and possibly free health insurance solutions for this underserved population. Previously she was co-director with MG Counseling Services.

Renwyck Randolph

Renwyck Randolph

Advisory Council

Professional project manager and business analyst with significant experience in gap analysis, asset acquisition, and customer relations. Especially critical for this phase of NIA's strategic development to help focus features of planning implementation with traction measures.

Kathryn Rice, Ph.D.

Kathryn Rice, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

An advocate for social equality, and founder of Building Quality Communities, which specializes in community and economic development. Adjunct graduate studies professor of Research Methods at Troy University.

Carl Jamal (CJ) Rumsey

Carl Jamal (CJ) Rumsey

Advisory Council

Urban ministry and social reform activist. Founder of The Prayer Plug ATL and in alliance with the renowned Maverick City Music group.

Lauren Shields

Lauren Shields

Advisory Council

Development Director with Shatterproof.Org, dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis. Driven by her personal family journey of addiction, incarceration, reentry and stigma; advocating throughout the Dallas and Atlanta policy market.

Rev. Jon T. Shonebarger

Rev. Jon T. Shonebarger

Advisory Council

A veteran of the United States Air Force, having served over eight years in Strategic Air Command. Jon has been in ministry for over 40 years beginning in Omaha, Nebraska as a Volunteer Chaplain at the Douglas County Jail. The ministry would lead Jon into the pastorate, serving churches in Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, and Kansas. Jon would return to Chaplaincy, serving prisons in Colorado, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Mykal Tairu

Mykal Tairu

Advisory Council

Workforce investment advocate, community organizer, and social entrepreneur who has founded several companies and has managed several initiatives focused on improving the workforce value and capacity of justice-involved and other hard-to-place individuals.

Bobbie Ticknor, Ph.D. - In Honorarium

Bobbie Ticknor, Ph.D. - In Honorarium

Advisory Council

Associate Professor at Valdosta State University whose instruction includes Seminar in Corrections, Classification of Criminal Behavior, Data Analysis, Criminological Theory, and Research Methods. Remembering the life of Bobbie Ticknor

Sara J. Totonchi

Sara J. Totonchi

Advisory Council

An accomplished organizational leader and justice reform advocate. Formerly with the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) in Atlanta, and now as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Promise of Justice Initiative, Board Member of Motherhood Beyond Bars, and an Advisory Board Member of New Disabled South.

Joey Villemez

Joey Villemez

Advisory Council

Founder & President of Probation Information Network, a comprehensive resource for federal defendants. Consultant, researcher, and presenter specializing in the federal criminal justice system and the collateral consequences of conviction.

EveLyn Wedge, Ph.D., LPC

EveLyn Wedge, Ph.D., LPC

Advisory Council

Psychotherapist, Infant/Early Childhood Family and Parenting Specialist, Advisory Council member of The Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, Founder and Director of The Early Years Matter, LLC, and founding board member of the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health, Birth to Five.

Anthony Wilson

Anthony Wilson

Advisory Council

Advocate. Joyful Disruptor. Educator. Founding Executive Director of Equity in Education, an advocacy organization focused on supporting bold, equity-centered leaders to run for public office and deliver justice for our littlest Atlantans.

Roderick L. Wyatt

Roderick L. Wyatt

Advisory Council

HR and Workforce Development professional with over 20 years of progressive experience in employee relations, employment law, public-sector agency management, recruitment, training, and organizational design.

In addition to these specific roles, NIA has an ongoing need to fill other volunteer positions. To learn more about what's needed, please visit our volunteer page.