Tracy Velázquez

Velázquez assumed the role of Policy Director for CCE in December 2023, bringing with her over 15 years’ of experience in the justice field, including at the Vera Institute of Justice, the Justice Policy Institute, American University, and most recently, the Pew Charitable Trusts, where she served as Senior Manager of Research, Strategy and Development for the Trusts’ Safety and Justice portfolio. In her almost six years at Pew, Velázquez led projects involving a wide range of subjects in criminal and youth justice and at the intersection of mental health and the legal system, including crisis response, use of the legal system to address substance use disorders and people with behavioral health conditions on probation supervision. Velázquez also has worked on public health issues, including as executive director of the Montana Mental Health Association, where she led advocacy efforts that resulted in the creation of a statewide suicide prevention office and funding for behavioral health services for people leaving prison. She is also an alumna of CCE, having served as Senior Policy Associate from 2014– 2016. Velázquez has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from Harvard University, a Master of Science in Justice, Law and Criminology from American University and a Master of Public Policy from Montana State University. She is an author on several peer-reviewed journal articles and has been interviewed by and had opinions published in national media, including CNN, the New York Times, NPR and the Washington Post.