Cynthia Herriott, a justice reform expert, is the former police chief of Rochester, New York. With extensive experience in criminal justice process improvement and organizational problem-solving, she emphasizes balanced justice for best-practice outcomes. As chief, she implemented a public 90-day plan, developed a Protest Plan Protocol ensuring peaceful demonstrations, and enacted key policies like Duty to Intervene and Limited Use of Force against juveniles. Her leadership on the Rochester City School District’s School Climate Committee contributed to rewriting the Code of Conduct, reducing suspensions by 40% to prevent youth justice system involvement.

A dedicated advocate for justice reform, Cynthia Herriott has served as a liaison to the Rochester Drug Treatment Court and trained Problem-Solving Court Teams. She established the region’s first Community Court Academy and the Community Justice Forum, both aimed at addressing disparities in the justice system. With years of experience training law enforcement, she helps integrate strategies to address addiction, behavioral health, homelessness, and housing justice for long-term solutions.

Cynthia Herriott has worked nationally and internationally to strengthen collaboration between courts and law enforcement. A Fellow with the Institute for Polarities of Democracy, she currently chairs the RASE Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, driving meaningful reform. She holds a Master of Science degree and is a Certified Compliance Professional.