The Prison Rape Elimination Act 
Staff Biographies and Contact information
Brenda V. Smith, J.D.
Professor
Project Director
The Project on Addressing Prison Rape
Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-274-4261 (Phone)
202-274-4182 (Fax)
bvsmith@wcl.american.edu
Brenda V. Smith is a Professor at the Washington College of Law at American University where she co-teaches in the Community Economic Development Law Clinic. Professor Smith is also the Project Director for the United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections Cooperative Agreement on Addressing Staff Sexual Misconduct with Offenders. In November, 2003, Prof. Smith was appointed to the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission by the United States House of Representatives Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D. CA). Prior to her faculty appointment at the Washington College of Law, Prof. Smith was the Senior Counsel for Economic Security at the National Women's Law Center and Director of the Center's Women in Prison Project and Child and Family Support Project. Prof. Smith is a 1984 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, and a magna cum laude graduate of Spelman College in 1980.
Prof. Smith is an expert on issues affecting women in prison and has published and spoken widely on those issues. Recent publications include: Battering, Forgiveness and Redemption: Exploring Alternative Models for Addressing Domestic Violence in Communities of Color, in Domestic Violence at the margins : Readings on Race, Class, Gender, and Culture (Rutgers University Press, 2004); Watching You, Watching Me, 15 Yale Journal of Law and Feminism 225 ( 2003); Battering, Forgiveness and Redemption, 11 American University Journal of Gender Social Policy and the Law 921, Volume 2 (2003); An End to Silence: Prisoners--Handbook on Identifying and Addressing Sexual Misconduct, (2d Ed., Washington College of Law, 2002); A Sexual Abuse Against Women in Prison, @ American Bar Association Criminal Justice Magazine, Vol. 16. No. 1, Spring, 2001; An End to Silence: Women Prisoners--Handbook on Identifying and Addressing Sexual Misconduct (National Women's Law Center: April, 1998); A Incarceration," in Women's Health Across the Lifespan: A Comprehensive Perspective (Lippincott: 1997); A Vision Beyond Survival: A Resource Guide for Incarcerated Women (National Women's Law Center: Fall, 1995); and Female Prisoners and AIDS: On the Margins of Public Health and Social Justice, 9 AIDS & Public Policy Journal 78 (Summer, 1994).
Prof. Smith has received numerous honors, including the prestigious Kellogg National Fellowship in 1993. Professor Smith was inducted into the D.C. Women's Hall of Fame in 1998 for her work on behalf of low-income women in the District of Columbia. Most recently, Professor Smith was awarded the Emalee C. Godsey Research Award for her article, Battering, Forgiveness and Redemption.
Jaime M. Yarussi, M.S.
Assistant Director
The Project on Addressing Prison Rape
Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
50th Street Bldg.
Washington, DC 20016
202-274-4385 (Phone)
202-274-4373 (Fax)
jyarussi@wcl.american.edu
Jaime M. Yarussi received a dual Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Justice and a Masters of Science from American University's School of Public Affairs in Justice Law and Society with a specialization in corrections and public policy.
Jaime has helped to accomplish the publication of a handbook for correctional staff on identifying and addressing staff sexual misconduct. She also worked to complete the core curricula for the Project’s training program and worked to publish research for the Project. She also maintains communication with the field through the Project's listservs. Jaime's on-hand correctional experience comes from core curricula as a graduate student focusing on work in various correctional facilities and the completion of work in the field of community corrections during her master's program. She has been involved with resident supervision, disciplinary hearings, recreational trip supervision, urinalysis collection and testing, as well as treatment and crisis intervention for offenders.
Jaime devotes her spare time to being a rape crisis counselor. She counsels men and women, children, gay, lesbian, and trans-gendered members of the community. She is also a counselor for rape victims through the S.A.N.E. Programs, offering counseling and advice during the evidence process, police interviews, and the legal process. Jaime also trains rape crisis counselors on the particular needs of people victimized in correctional settings.
Cynthia Z. Briggs
Program Coordinator
The Project on Addressing Prison Rape
Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
50th Street Bldg.
Washington, DC 20016
202-274-4403 (Phone)
202-274-4373 (Fax)
cbriggs@wcl.american.edu
Cynthia Z. Briggs is the newest member of the Project on Addressing Prison Rape team. Before beginning with the Project, she worked on multiple reintegration programs for Our Place DC. Our Place DC is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive programming, resources and support services to currently and formerly incarcerated women as they transition back into the community.
Cynthia also has wide-ranging and extensive experience in the legal arena; working twenty years with several well-known and prestigious local, national and international law firms. In addition, she has grant and management experience stemming from her work with Our Place as well as serving as manager in the Customer Relations Division for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Cynthia is a proud member of Federally Employed Women and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Cynthia attended Virginia Union University receiving her degree in Business Management. She is a native Washingtonian, and understands the importance of fairness to all citizens. In her role as Program Coordinator for the Project on Addressing Prison Rape, Cynthia will continue to champion the cause for positive change in institutionalized justice, crisis intervention, and correctional reform.
