There's something powerful about being in a room full of people who just get it. That's exactly what I experienced at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) National Meeting in Denver, CO—an energy that's hard to put into words but impossible to ignore. It's the fuel that elevates conversations, sharpens our sense of purpose, and turns ideas into action.
The Power of Interactive Learning
My contribution to ACJS took on a deeply personal and engaging form. I presented both on a panel and in a standalone session, introducing an interactive prosecution presentation—a format designed to immerse participants in the realities of the criminal justice system in a way that's raw, thought-provoking, and deeply human.
The concept is simple yet powerful: rather than just talking about prosecution, I bring participants into the experience itself. Using real trial testimony, depositions, exhibits, allocution statements, and even polygraph results from my own prosecution, the presentation invites attendees to read aloud, analyze, and respond to firsthand legal documents. The impact? A visceral, emotional connection to the material that transforms passive listeners into engaged participants.
It's humbling, haunting, and humanizing. The moment someone reads a passage, and you see the shift in their expression—the realization of what these words meant in a real courtroom, in a real life—it sparks something deeper than intellectual understanding. It invites dialogue, challenges assumptions, and makes space for perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.
I learn a lot along the way. What touches the participants and why… what do they want to sit on and explore more of. In the future, I plan to do some impact surveys so we can measure how being a part of this interactive experience truly had an effect or possibly even a shift in one's thinking.
Elevating Conversations & Creating Impact
Being at ACJS was more than just an opportunity to present—it was a reminder that I am not alone in this work. It's easy to second-guess yourself in this space, to wonder if your voice truly matters. But when you stand in a room full of people who share your mission, who challenge and uplift you, that doubt fades. You realize: You know more than you give yourself credit for. You have something valuable to contribute.
Keeping the Momentum Alive
The real challenge is keeping that momentum alive. Inspiration is only as powerful as the action it fuels.
