The Criminal Justice System: Honoring Tradition, Championing Reform
The 2017 Bernard G. Segal Memorial Lecture in Law and Ethics
Flaws in the criminal justice system threaten the social fabric of our country. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. shares new approaches to criminal justice reform, including initiatives to promote alternatives to incarceration, address implicit bias, and enhance relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve. He also addresses contemporary public safety issues like human trafficking and cybercrime.
Moderated by Marc Gary, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, JTS, and Former General Counsel, Fidelity Investments and BellSouth Corporation.
About the Speaker
Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Manhattan District Attorney since 2010, has enhanced the DA’s office as a national leader in criminal justice by expanding its expertise on an array of 21st century crimes. His many achievements include the takedown of violent street gangs, dismantling domestic and international cybercrime and identity theft operations, and the first local terrorism convictions in New York State courts.
In recent months, DA Vance has taken a national leadership role in addressing the issue of race in the criminal justice system. Using funds obtained through sanctions cases against international financial institutions, he has also made significant investments in a series of transformative criminal justice initiatives in New York City and nationally, including a program aimed at reducing the number of individuals with behavioral health issues in the criminal justice system.
About the Segal Memorial Lecture
The annual Bernard G. Segal Memorial Lecture was established by JTS in honor of the late philanthropist and community leader. Mr. Segal was the first Jewish president of the American Bar Association and the first Jewish chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
