Cassandra Cean-Owens

We all come into this world for a reason. For a long time, I thought I knew what my purpose was – but life has a habit of rewriting your expectations.

For over 10 years, I was a trial and transactional attorney and practiced real estate, contract, and personal injury law. However, when I was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison and disbarred by the State of New York, it seemed like the door was slammed shut on my future.

I could have thrown in the towel. However, despite the massive weight of failure and pain in my life, I strove to be better, not bitter.

During my time served at Danbury Federal Prison Camp, I witnessed the human impact exacted by the criminal justice system. I vowed to be a positive force and enrich the lives of justice-impacted individuals by advocating for criminal justice reform, better healthcare in carceral settings, and educational opportunities.

From inside the prison walls, I instructed multiple Christian foundations, legal research and writing, and biblical studies classes, served as a chaplain clerk, created a law library, and developed the curriculum for the United States Department of Labor Legal Secretary Apprenticeship Program. I was doing everything I could to make a difference.

In January 2022, I completed my sentence, after serving 4 and ½ years in prison and 2 years of home detention. But my passion for criminal justice reform had been ignited, and it isn’t going out anytime soon.

Today, I’m applying years of legal training and firsthand experience with incarceration to advocate for improvements to the community supervision system. My greatest passion is to motivate, teach, and inspire others.

I’m currently a Program Associate for REFORM Alliance, whose mission is to hold people accountable without keeping them trapped in a revolving door to incarceration, in the hopes of creating stronger families and communities. I research cases that align with REFORM’s proposed legislation and provide thought leadership. As a speaker, I have presented at board meetings attended by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Meek Mills, Michael Rubin, Robert Kraft, Laura Arnold, and Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg, as well as at other venues.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets a fair opportunity. I met so many people in prison who did not get a first chance to even be afforded a second chance. I’m here to help give people their second chance or, in some cases, their first chance.

#21DayGratitudeChallenge

Chaplain

New York City Police Department

Reimaging Probation Interview - Post Presentation

2022 American Society of Criminology Conference

Atlanta, Georgia

November 17, 2022

‍