Taryn VanderPyl: Professor of Criminal Justice Sciences.
With more than a decade of experience working directly with justice impacted individuals. Her research focuses on interventions and legislation affecting juvenile and adult corrections, with an emphasis on reentry outcomes, community reintegration, and elevating the voices of impacted populations.
Transformative Justice Community
Hired After Bars is working alongside Taryn VanderPyl, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Sciences at Western Oregon University, and Transformative Justice Community to help strengthen the development of our proposed legislation and reentry focused initiatives.
Through Transformative Justice Community’s CREW (Connecting Resources to Empower Women) program, volunteers help coordinate safe transportation for incarcerated women returning home after release, ensuring individuals can safely reach housing placements, support programs, family members, and other critical destinations during reentry.
This work directly connects to the goals of our proposed legislation. One of the core ideas behind the act is creating financial support systems and savings opportunities that help justice impacted individuals access immediate reentry necessities after release, including transportation, housing, and employment preparation.
Transportation barriers are often overlooked, yet they can significantly impact successful reintegration. Without reliable transportation, individuals may struggle to access housing, maintain employment opportunities, attend required appointments, or reconnect with support systems. By working alongside professionals and organizations actively addressing these challenges, Hired After Bars is helping develop legislation informed by real reentry experiences and community based solutions.
