Jessica Hart And Kendel Ehrlich Tapped To Lead Office For Victims Of Crime And Smart Office

          WASHINGTON – The Office of Justice Programs today welcomed Jessica Elizabeth Hart to lead the Office for Victims of Crime and Kendel S. Ehrlich to lead the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Ms. Hart and Ms. Ehrlich as directors of their respective offices on February 13 and February 28.

           “I am thrilled to welcome these two outstanding public servants to the ranks of leadership in the Office of Justice Programs,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “Their talent, intelligence and experience – not to mention their whole-hearted commitment to public safety – will be invaluable assets as we work to bring justice and healing to crime victims and build our nation’s capacity to manage sex offenders.”

          Prior to joining OVC, Ms. Hart served as the Intergovernmental and Public Liaison for the Department of Justice, where she managed relationships with state governors, state attorneys general, elected officials, law enforcement officials and key stakeholders. She also helped direct responses to congressional inquiries and prepare witnesses for testimony and briefings before the U.S. Congress. 

          Before joining the Department, she worked in the U.S. Senate and in private practice with Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, where her practice focused on commercial litigation and government and internal investigations. She received her J.D. from Baylor University and her B.B.A from the University of Texas.

          Ms. Ehrlich recently served as the Associate Director of External Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where she managed public appearances and media engagements and helped coordinate drug policy efforts. 

          Prior to joining the Department of Justice, she served as a public defender and a prosecutor in several counties in the State of Maryland. She served as the First Lady of Maryland from 2003 to 2007, focusing on education and drug prevention efforts. Ms. Ehrlich earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore.

          Established in 1988 through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, OVC administers the Crime Victims Fund, which is financed by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal offenders, as well as gifts, donations, and bequests by private parties. Through OVC, the Fund supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. 

          The SMART Office was authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. It provides technical assistance to the states, territories, tribal and local governments, and public and private organizations, and administers grant programs related to the registration, notification and management of sex offenders.