Press Release

Media Contact:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM welcomes Shanna Rifkin as Deputy General Counsel and Shaneva D. McReynolds as a consultant

SPRINGFIELD – FAMM President Kevin Ring today announced the hiring of Shanna Rifkin as Deputy General Counsel and Shaneva D. McReynolds as a consultant.

“We are glad to have Shanna and Shaneva joining our team, and helping us expand our fight for a fairer justice system,” said FAMM President Kevin Ring. “Each brings expertise and knowledge that will help FAMM expand our efforts across the country and in Illinois, specifically.”

Most recently, Rifkin worked at Northwestern Law School’s Children and Family Justice Center, where she was fighting for clemency on behalf of incarcerated youth in Illinois. Prior to that role, Shanna was a litigation associate at a large international law firm known for its commitment to pro bono cases.

“FAMM uniquely sits at the intersection of law, policy, and people, lifting up the voices of those whose stories are too often neglected,” Rifkin said. “As someone who has counseled a federal judge on sentencing decisions, I’ve seen the grave impact of excessive sentencing schemes that tie a judge’s hands. I am honored to contribute to FAMM’s critical role in leading sentencing and prison reform efforts on behalf of families whose lives have been upended and transformed by a system that prioritizes baseless punishment over empathy, compassion and rehabilitation.”

McReynolds joins FAMM in addition to her work as Vice President of Contracts for a 600+ personnel firm. She is currently working on her dissertation in partial fulfillment of a doctorate in Public Policy Administration with a concentration in Law & Public Policy.

“I first came across FAMM during my fight to see my husband free from a 235-month sentence at the Bureau of Prisons — it was like a breath of fresh air to know there was a dynamic force fighting with and for families like mine!” McReynolds said. “In graduate school, I wrote papers on FAMM and the incredible work the organization does to highlight how mandatory sentencing policy is ineffective in meeting the law-and-order needs of everyone in this country. Now, I’m honored to have the opportunity to join the fight alongside them.”

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies at the state and federal level and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.