September 2024: Criminal Justice
In recent years, criminal justice has garnered widespread attention as communities and policymakers consider the implications of privatizing prisons, racial biases in policing, decriminalization of marijuana, and alternative policing models. These issues have generated widespread participation by governments, nonprofits, communities and other stakeholders.
This panel discussed key policy issues in criminal justice, including how governments have engaged different stakeholders in the policymaking process and the implications of diverse stakeholder engagement on policy design.
The event was moderated by Ryan Suto (FairVote). Panelists included:
- Gabriela Kirk-Werner (Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Syracuse University)
- Trelaine Ito (Senior Advisor, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice)
- Maha Jweied (Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice)
- Michael Sisitzky (Assistant Policy Director, New York Civil Liberties Union)
February 2024: Artificial Intelligence
Since ChatGPT-3 launched in November 2023, governments have already started investigating and imposing regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) around the world. Emerging challenges to the policy process include achieving flexible AI policy regulation that is (1) responsive to rapidly changing technology, (2) tailored to encourage positive developments, and (3) created by competent yet disinterested regulators.
This panel discussed the many concerns and considerations for policymakers in the world of AI.
The event was moderated by Ryan Suto (FairVote). Panelists included:
- Roslyn Docktor (Vice President, Technology and Science Policy Government and Regulatory Affairs, IBM)
- Hamid Ekbia (University Professor, Maxwell School; Director, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute)
- Mohammad Hamdy (Chief Legal and Policy Officer, Almond FinTech)
- Ramon Perez (Executive Director, Digital Democracy Project)
November 2023: Election Administration
In recent years, election administration and voting rights have become an increasingly polarized civic engagement process--even though it is central to procedural democracy.
This panel discussed (1) how and when state and local election officials are included in the policymaking process, (2) the impact of changing policies on election administration, and (3) the ways policy can strength this civic necessity in the future.
The event was moderated by Ryan Suto (FairVote). Panelists included:
- Richard Barton (Assistant Teaching Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs Department, Syracuse University)
- Jeff Greenburg (Senior Advisor on Election Administration, Committee of Seventy)
- Audrey Kline (Deputy Clerk and Recorder, City and County of Denver)
September 2023: The Environment
As governments increasingly grapple with the changing climate at both the federal and state level, the topic of environmental governance continues to grow.
This panel discussed the process of designing, implementing and assessing the effectiveness of environmental policy solutions, and how key policy stakeholders negotiate their design.
The event was moderated by Ryan Suto (FairVote). Panelists included:
- Sara Rinfret (Professor of Public Administration and Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs at Northern Arizona University)
- Neela Ram (Southeast Regional Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council)
- Paul Babbitt (Senior Legislative Assistant and Counsel for Senator Mark Kelly)
