Derrick is the police officer with a background in social work who now helps to run a police agency. As the Director of Community Engagement at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Director Jackson has spent the last 15 years designing and implementing systems that integrate social work and criminal justice theory in order to transform traditional policing strategies. Derrick is a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University where he studied social work as an undergraduate student and the University of Michigan School of Social Work for his graduate studies. As a MSW social worker and Certified Law Enforcement Officer he has a unique perspective and role in building bridges between law enforcement and the communities they serve. He has spent his time within the Sheriff’s Office learning, understanding, deconstructing, redesigning, and implementing systems within the Washtenaw County community that have helped reimagine the role of police within the community and the role of social workers within law enforcement. Where some may see social work and law enforcement on opposite ends of the spectrum, Director Jackson redefines the spectrum and uses social work and law enforcement to enhance the impact of both. A forward- thinking innovator, reformer, and change agent driven by a deep commitment to improving the lives of marginalized populations often overlooked by society.
