Carmen Z. Gomez, PhD
Carmen Z. Gomez, PhD, is a Criminal Legal professional with over 28 years of experience in the Judicial system. She serves as Deputy Commissioner for Pretrial Services for the Massachusetts Probation Service. She holds a PhD in Philosophy, with a concentration in Law, Policy, and Society. She has served as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities and as a consultant to local, state, and federal entities, providing expertise in the areas of executive leadership capacity, Probation and Parole, DEI, gender responsiveness approaches, gender studies and female empowerment, wellness, emotional regulation for law enforcement, sex crimes, and serial killings.
She serves as an American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Leadership Institute Coordinator. She is the Vice-President of NECCD and serves on the National Association of Probation Executives Board of Directors, Enroot, Cambridge Community Services, and served on the Governor’s Criminal Record Review Board. She is the Co-Founder and Member of the Foundation for Non-Violent Action. She is the lead organizer of the Massachusetts Trial Court Cultural Appreciation Week and the Co-Chair of the Trial Court’s Equity Subcommittee on Specialty Courts.
She founded the Massachusetts Trial Court’s annual Women’s History Month Ceremony and Conference in 2021 and is the Co-Chair of the APPA’s Women’s Symposium. She is committed to advancing women’s rights and securing recognition for their contributions. She is a sought-after national and international speaker on Racial Justice, Women’s Rights, Probation and Parole Systems, Leadership Capacity, and Wellness.
She is a proud, dedicated mother of three accomplished children, whom she raises by modeling and by getting them involved in some of her work so they can experience firsthand the importance of hard work, commitment, and surrounding themselves with systems of support to accomplish great things and contribute to society.
She is the recipient of the 2024 American Probation and Parole Association Carmen Rodriguez Member of the Year Award, the 2020 Amplify Latinx Latina Leader in the category of Government and Public Policy, the 2019 Martin Luther King Spirit Award, the 2018 Mutual of America Community Partnership – Rosie’s Place, 2017 Mutual of America – United States Mint Liberty Coin, 2017 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court, 2017 Women of Distinction, 2015 One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Massachusetts, 2012 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court, and Distinguished Alumna in Liberal Arts, Humanity, and Education.
She has devoted her life to public service, civil rights, wellness, leadership, and community corrections and engagement. She is dedicated to creating and supporting systems that embrace diversity, equality, inclusion, accessibility, and a fair and just legal system. She believes not only in leaving a legacy but in educating younger generations to carry on with the mission and projects she is passionate about, as well as their own.
- Racial Justice
- Gender’s Studies / Women’s Rights
- Probation and Parole Systems
- Executive Leadership Capacity
- Wellness
- Culture Transformation
- We Are…….., Department of Juvenile Justice, Georgia, March 2026
- Effective Leadership Practices: From Cultivation to Implementation. American Probation and Parole (APPA). Georgia, March 2026
- Creating Your Own Confidence. APPA. Georgia, March 2026
- A Sustainable Future. Women’s History Month Ceremony and Conference. Massachusetts Trial Court. March 2026
- Let’s Talk About Wellness. New England Council Crime and Delinquency. New Hampshire. October 2025
- Staff Sexual Misconduct, Rulo Strategies/NIC. New York and Florida DOC, 2025
- Creating Your Own Confidence. American Probation and Parole, Women’s Symposium. New York, August 2025
- No Bologna Sandwich (BS) Leadership. ROCA Inc. Boston, MA. June 2025
- Wellness and Leadership. APPA Executive Summit. Washington, February 2024
- Evidence Based Probation System. Comunidad Peruana Americana. Lima, Peru. September 2024
- The Art of Meditation. La Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Mexico City, Mexico. February 2023
- No Bologna Sandwich (BS) Leadership. Universidad de Puerto Rico. Arecibo P.R. 2023
- Improving Probation Systems. Lima, Peru. January 2020
- Professional Boundaries
- Be a Professional Disruptor
- Rewire 4
- Leadership Clarity
- Normalizing the Good Leader, Good Not Nice
- Sorry, Not Sorry – Women, Stop apologizing
- The Counter Experience – Improving Customer Relations
- Probation Rules!
- DEI
- Dismantling Ineffective Systems
- Rehabilitation is a Myth
Sex Offender Perceptions of Residency Restriction Laws, Boston, Massachusetts: Northeastern University, 2015. Dissertation.
- 2024 American Probation and Parole Association Carmen Rodriguez Member of the Year Award
- 2020 Amplify Latinx Latina Leader in the category of Government and Public Policy
- 2019 Martin Luther King Spirit Award,
- 2018 Mutual of America Community Partnership – Rosie’s Place
- 2017 Mutual of America – United States Mint Liberty Coin
- 2017 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court
- 2017 Women of Distinction
- 2015 One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Massachusetts
- 2012 Excellence Award Massachusetts Trial Court, and Distinguished Alumna in Liberal Arts, Humanity, and Education
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