Criminal Justice Reform Advocate & Policy Catalyst

STEPHEN BARGER

Phoenix, AZ 928-***-**** ***.******@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/stephen-barger

Criminal Justice Reform Advocate

Public Speaker Policy Developer Outreach & Advocacy Leader Coalition Builder

From Incarcerated to Advocate: Using Lived Experience to Drive Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona

■Dedicated, passionate Criminal Justice Reform Advocate with 18+ years of firsthand experience inside Arizona's correctional system poised to create meaningful, lasting change in Arizona's criminal justice landscape through policy development, legislative engagement, and community outreach initiatives.

■Aspiring lobbyist who brings a unique perspective that no career politician can replicate, leveraging lived experience to advocate for reforms that address the root causes of incarceration: mental health issues, addiction, and lack of vocational opportunity.

■Natural storyteller and compelling communicator who combines personal narrative with the collective stories of fellow incarcerated individuals to consistently move audiences and shift perspectives.

■Known for intelligence, wit, and genuine warmth that disarms audiences and builds instant trust across diverse groups, from legislators and city officials to advocacy organizations and formerly incarcerated communities.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Policy Brief Development Criminal Justice Reform Corrections Policy Incarceration Reform Community Outreach

Stakeholder Engagement Coalition Building Elected Official Relationship Building Social Media Content Creation

Podcast Production Storytelling & Narrative Development Government & Media Relations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance Phoenix, AZ 03/2025 – Present

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATE & POLICY CONSULTANT

Drive efforts to advance criminal justice reform in Arizona through policy development, legislative advocacy, and public awareness initiatives. Build relationships and collaborate with elected officials and legislative stakeholders to draft policy briefs targeting transparency, oversight, and reentry program reform.

■Leveraged 18+ years of AZ DOC experience to draft policy brief focused on improving transparency and accountability in Arizona’s correctional system, and submitted it to House Representative Walt Blackman, where it is currently under review.

■Nominated to participate in Arizona Independent Corrections Oversight Committee, which would entail serving as committee's representative voice of formerly incarcerated individuals. Nomination is pending Governor’s vote.

■Created and produced "Unlocked: Real Stories. Real Reform." podcast series featuring storytelling and expert perspectives on criminal justice reform, scheduled for June 2026 launch across YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, Buzzsprout, and Podbean.

■Built strategic network of legislators, city officials, and advocacy organizations to advance statewide criminal justice reform, including forging connections with Arizona state senators, house representatives, and Arizona Department of Corrections.

Contract Work Phoenix, AZ 12/2022 – 02/2025

TRADES & SERVICE PROFESSIONAL

Maintained steady employment following prison release in December 2022, working across multiple service industries: facilities maintenance, kennel management, and contractor support services.

State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Corrections Phoenix, AZ 04/2002 – 12/2022

FACILITIES & OPERATIONS WORKER

Assigned to diverse roles on rotation while imprisoned within Arizona’s state correctional system, performing facilities maintenance, kitchen foodservices, floor maintenance, and chaplain support services.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Expected: 2027 Grand Canyon University

Associate in Small Business Administration, 2019 Eastern Arizona College

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

MS Word Excel PowerPoint

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