Chief Mack Jenkins Joins JSI as Vice President

Chief Mack Jenkins joins the Justice Speakers Institute (JSI) as Vice President, serving alongside the Institute’s two remaining founders – Judge Brian Mackenzie (Ret.) and David Wallace, (the Traffic Safety Guy). Jenkins retains the honorific “Chief” in recognition of his 9 years as chief probation officer of San Diego (California) County from 2007 to 2016. 

“I am very excited to join JSI. I was a long admirer of the late Judge Peggy Hora, a co-founder of JSI, and an early trailblazer in our country’s Treatment Court movement. In launching JSI, I believe Judge Hora saw an opportunity to move our country’s justice system forward, in the areas of treatment, collaboration, fairness, and justice itself. Her fellow co-founders, Judge Brian Mackenzie (Ret), and Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Wallace have continued to pursue that vision, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to that effort,” said Jenkins in a statement. 

A former President of the American Probation and Parole Association, Chief Jenkins attained over 40 years’ experience in community corrections with an emphasis on evidence-based practices. He was senior policy adviser for The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center as well as a consultant to the National Institute of Corrections, Washington, D.C. As San Diego County’s chief probation officer, he oversaw operations of a department of up to 1,500 employees which was responsible for the supervision of 14,000 adults and 2,000 youth.

JSI Co-President Judge Brian MacKenzie noted: “For more than 40 years Chief Mack Jenkins has worked to improve the justice system.  We at JSI share his commitment, so, I was delighted when he agreed to become JSI’s Vice President.” 

Chief Jenkins was a consultant to both the National Institute of Corrections, Washington, D. C., and the National Drug Court Institute, Alexandra, Virginia. He worked with local, state, and national policymakers to develop and support legislation to serve the goals of the criminal justice system. He held a variety of leadership positions with Orange County Probation, including division director, and supervising probation counselor.

“I worked with Chief Jenkins for several years during my time at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals,” said Co-President David Wallace.  “He was one of the individuals I always wanted for my training programs.  His extensive knowledge and experience of Treatment Courts was something few people possess, and his ability in sharing that knowledge was unparalleled. I am thrilled he agreed to join JSI.” 

Chief Jenkins received a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University Long Beach and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social ecology/criminal justice from the University of California Irvine. He is an adjunct instructor with the Rancho Santiago Community College District in Santa Ana and serves on the board of several probation and justice organizations including the California Prison Industry Authority.

To read more about Chief Mack Jenkins, click HERE. To listen to a podcast interview with Chief Jenkins, click HERE.