Kendra Bradner is Director of the Probation and Parole Reform Project at the Justice Lab. In this role, she helps lead the Lab’s work to transform probation and parole supervision in the United States, which includes supporting and convening EXiT: Executives Transforming Probation and Parole. EXiT brings together a group of current and former community corrections executives to publicly call for transformation of the field to be smaller, less punitive, and more hopeful, equitable, and restorative. Through a combination of research, policy development, capacity building, technical assistance, and communications, the Lab leverages EXiT members to help states and localities nationwide reimagine their supervision systems.
Prior to coming to Columbia, Kendra was manager and facilitator of the Executive Session on Community Corrections with the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management at Harvard Kennedy School. The Executive Session was a working group of academics and practitioners which explores the role of community corrections and communities in the interest of justice and public safety. She has expertise in reentry, community corrections, racial disparities, solitary confinement, and reducing the justice system footprint.
Kendra completed her Master in Public Policy (MPP) at Harvard Kennedy School, with a focus on social and urban policy and criminal justice. Kendra also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and International Studies from Boston College.