US law enforcement professionals to give public lecture in Derby on gangs

Senior police officers, a judge and other leading figures from justice organisations in the United States are in Derby this week to talk about their experience of dealing with criminal gangs.

They will be speaking at a day-long US Criminal Justice Conference at the University of Derby’s Law School at Friar Gate Square on Thursday 5 December (9am-5pm). The event is open to the public and free to attend, although places must be booked in advance.

Appearing at the conference will be:

• Judge Nushin Sayfie, Miami
• Nelson Santos, Police instructor and former police captain, Miami
• Karen Fletcher, Chief Adult Probation Officer, San Francisco
• Sergeant Spencer Fomby, Berkeley Police Department
• Lieutenant Sam Robinson, Press Officer, San Quentin Prison
• Chief James Lopez, Los Angeles
• Melissa Allgood, Director of Loss Prevention, Universal Studios
• Professor Denise Herz, Director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, Cal State University
• Reggie Zachery, Regional Programme Manager, Gang Reduction and Youth Development Partnership, Los Angeles
• Captain Laura Lecrivain, Los Angeles Police Department

The event will be preceded on Wednesday by lectures from the guest speakers for students.

Charlotte Fletcher-Morgan, Discipline Head for Criminology and Social Sciences at the University of Derby’s College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, said: “We are honoured to have such an array of experienced and knowledgeable guests, who can provide first-hand accounts of dealing and working with gangs and gang members in order to keep their communities safe.

“This event follows a visit made to the USA by our students in the summer, during which they toured a number of different cities to find out more about how law enforcement is delivered there. It is fascinating to compare their systems of criminal justice with our own in the UK, and to fully understand the issues police departments, prisons, courts are dealing with, and the role that partner organisations also play in that process.

”This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has an interest in crime and criminal justice.”

The day of the conference will also include the unveiling of artwork from inmates in the San Quentin prison in the art gallery at the Law School, which already includes works created in what is one of the USA’s highest security jails.

As well as giving their lectures, the guests will spend a day in London before staying in the Peak District National Park and visiting a number of Derbyshire’s main attractions, including the Blue John Cavern in Castleton and Haddon Hall, near Bakewell. 

To attend the event on Thursday at One Friar Gate Square, you can book a place via the University website. The venue can be found on Google Maps.