stephen.saloom

Stephen spent the past decade creating and directing the Innocence Project’s Policy Department. While there, he developed a partnership on state and federal advocacy efforts between the Innocence Project and national Innocence Network called the Innocence Policy Network. By communicating with government officials, partnering with stakeholders, advocating in legislatures, advancing litigation strategies, and educating the media and the public about needed reforms, the Innocence Project and Innocence Network member organizations enacted over 100 reforms in states across the nation, as well as federal reforms and program funding. Stephen first pursued nationwide criminal justice reform goals when he launched the State Legislative Network for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Stephen had previously been a Regulatory Affairs Consultant for Public Citizen in Washington, D.C., and Executive Director of the nascent Criminal Justice Policy Coalition in Boston. The latter was housed within the offices of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, where he also served as an Intake Attorney. Stephen’s first professional advocacy work came as a contract lobbyist for Betty Gallo & Co., where he represented progressive organizations ranging from the Connecticut AIDS Action Council to the American School for the Deaf, Legal Services of Connecticut and many more before the Connecticut Legislature. While lobbying in Connecticut, Stephen also earned his law degree at The University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.