Jeanne Woodford

Our guest speaker on April 5 is Jeanne Woodford. She has more than 30 years’ experience in corrections and law enforcement as an administrator, author, and public speaker.
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.

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. As warden, she oversaw four executions.

Ms. Woodford was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Undersecretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (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.

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.

A fellow alumna, Ms. Woodford graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. It is with great pleasure and an honor for me to introduce to you Ms. Jeanne Woodford.

Kathy Aanestad
FCC Forum Chair

Useful Websites on the Death Penalty

Amnesty International USA
California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Focus
Death Penalty Information Center
Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights
Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

BROCHURES:

Go to: Death Penalty Focus to download brochures and booklets.

• Myths and Facts About the Death Penalty (Oct. 2009)
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  Mitos y Realidades de la Pena de Muerte (2009)
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  Death Penalty Focus Agency Brochure (2007)
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  California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (2007)
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  Victimas de Delitos a Favor de Alternativas de la Pena de Muerte (2007)
• Voices from California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (2008)
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  DPF's 20th Anniversary Report (2008)
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  Writing Wrongs: How to Shift Public Opinion on the Death Penalty with Letters to the Editor (Single page format)
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  Writing Wrongs: How to Shift Public Opinion on the Death Penalty with Letters to the Editor (Booklet format)

10 Reasons to Oppose the Death Penalty

YouTube Videos and Films on the Death Penalty

HOW TO FIND US

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