Amy Solomon

About Amy Solomon

Currently a Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, working to shine a light on the black box of federal justice funding, policy, and operations. Also serving as Distinguished Advisor to The Pew Charitable Trusts and consultant to the Center for Law and Public Trust at NYU School of Law. Active Board Member of the Clean Slate Initiative, The Marshall Project, the California Correctional Mental Healthcare Receiver Corporation, and the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) Advisory Committee.From 20••••24, I led the Office of Justice Programs, the largest grantmaking agency at the U.S. Department of Justice, overseeing $5 billion annually in grants to support state and local criminal justice efforts and to generate research and statistics to inform national policy and practice. Spearheaded a broad range of strategies and investments to build knowledge, advance community safety, and serve victims. Also led a major effort to reimagine OJP’s mission and investment strategy to center the role of communities as co-producers of safety and justice.Previously served as Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures. Launched and led a corrections reform portfolio supporting new investments to reduce the reach and transform the culture of prisons; spark a fundamental shift in the focus of community supervision from catching failure to promoting success; and expand economic opportunities for people with a criminal record.From 2010 to 2017, served as Director of Policy and Senior Advisor for OJP. Worked with Administration leadership to shape, launch, and implement a broad range of domestic policy initiatives. Concurrently served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, a cabinet-level body established by President Obama. The Council spearheaded successful policy reforms including the federal Ban the Box rule, fair housing guidance, the Second Chance Pell initiative and Medicaid guidance for the justice-involved population.Spent 10 years at the Urban Institute, directing projects relating to prisoner reentry and public safety. Also worked at the National Institute of Justice, managed a community service program, developed reentry strategies for a state department of correction, and worked with juveniles in probation, halfway house, and school settings. Served on many boards and councils, helping shape innovative approaches to social justice challenges in collaboration with policymakers and practitioners, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, researchers and the advocacy community.

Experience

1. Distinguished Advisor

   The Pew Charitable Trusts

   Mar 2026 — Present

Education

• Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

  Master’s Degree

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor’s Degree