Jill Klinge - Board Chair

Jill Klinge began her prosecutorial career in 1987 as a Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County, where she has served for 22 years, and is currently head of the Parole Revocation Unit. During her tenure with the Alameda County DAs office, Ms. Klinge worked on cases involving sexual assault, homicides, career criminals, drug prosecutions and all other felony and misdemeanor crimes. She has also been a charging deputy and has handled felony arraignment and probation revocation assignments. In addition, Ms. Klinge is a seasoned educator, providing trainings on a variety of topics.  Most recently she developed and presented seminars on conducting Life Parole Hearings and the implementation of Marsy’s Law in the life hearing process to members of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA).

Dan Felizzatto - Secretary

Ellie Jones - Treasurer

Jessica Heskin - Executive Board Member

Jessica Heskin has been a member of the Alliance since 2001 and became a member of the Executive Board in 2006.  She is the coordinator for the Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services at California State University, Sacramento.  She has a B.A., Double Major—English and Women’s Studies and a M.A. Behavioral Sciences in Education—Women’s Studies Option from the California State University, Sacramento.  She is also nationally credentialed as an intermediate level sexual assault advocate and a domestic violence victim advocate through the National Organization of Victim Assistance. Ms. Heskin has extensively studied the issue of sexual violence, particularly in relation to the educational system and has testified on several bills concerning sexual violence.  Ms. Heskin has been a member of the Sacramento County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for over five years, and has responded as an advocate to hundreds of sexual assault cases in the Sacramento area. Ms. Heskin has conducted numerous trainings for sexual assault emergency responders, as well as law enforcement, medical doctors, and counselors.  She conducts classes on drug facilitated sexual assault for employees and volunteers of the Sacramento rape crisis center (WEAVE) as well as the CSUS community.  Ms. Heskin presented at the 2nd International GHB Conference in 2004, as well as six other state conferences across the country. She also was a featured speaker at the First Annual Explosion Youth Leadership Conference, as well as participant in numerous panels concerning Third Wave Feminism, Healthy Sexuality, Drug Facilitated Rape, Sexual Harassment, Women as Sex Workers, Women in the Prison System, Women and Policing, and Sexual Violence. Ms. Heskin is also a professor for the Los Rios Community College District where she teaches Human Sexuality and Psychology of Women.

Ed Jagels – Executive Board Member

District Attorney Ed Jagels has been Kern County’s top prosecutor since 1983.  He is a graduate of Stanford University, where he received his B.A. in history, and the University of California, Hastings College of Law where he received his J.D.    During Jagels’ tenure as District Attorney, Kern County has had the highest per capita prison commitment rate of any major California County.   Jagels is a former president and director of the California District Attorney’s Association.   In 1994 he was appointed to the Governor’s Law Enforcement Steering Committee, and in 1995 was appointed the chairman of the Attorney General’s Policy Council on Violence Prevention. Mr. Jagels is frequently asked to participate in newspaper, radio and television discussions on such subjects as "Three Strikes and Your Out," victim’s rights, court reform, and legislation.    A strong proponent of public safety, he was the Kern County co-chairman of Proposition 8, the "Victims Bill of Rights," in 1982.    In 1986, he was the steering committee chairman for Crime Victims for Court Reform, the principal organization campaigning for the defeat of California Supreme Court Justices Bird, Grodin, and Reynoso.   In 1990, he was co-author of the "Crime Victims Justice Reform Act" (Prop. 115), a sweeping criminal procedure reform, and chairman of its campaign organization, the Crime Victims California Justice Committee.

Paula Myers

Paula Myers has been a member of the Alliance since its inception.  She has been involved in the planning of the Justice Educational Conferences in San Diego and participates in various legislative and advocacy efforts.  She became Chair in 2004. Ms. Myers is the Victim Services Director for the San Diego County chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).  She has been involved with MADD since being struck and injured by a drunk driver in 1989.  Her major focus with MADD is on the courts and advocacy programs.  She produces 7 monthly Victim Impact Panels, works directly with victims of impaired driving collisions, serves as a media spokesperson and is the local law enforcement liaison. Since 1996 Ms.Myers has been a Sergeant with the San Diego County Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association.  She has received numerous awards, including volunteer recognition from the County of San Diego, and from the San Diego County District Attorneys Office for her work with the “Stalking the Stalker” conference and task force.  She has received the Governor’s “Doris G. Tate” Award in 1998 for her dedication and leadership in advancing crime victims’ rights.  She is a member of the Victim Assistance Coordinating Council, based in San Diego, and is a member of Citizens for Law & Order.

Todd Riebe - Executive Board Member

Todd grew up in rural Minnesota.  He attended Mankato State University in southern Minnesota and later transferred to the University of Southern California, earning a B.A. in Political Science in 1983 and a M.A. in American Politics in 1985. From 1985 to 1987, Todd taught 7th grade World History and Geography and 8th grade U.S. History at Horace Mann Junior High School in South Central Los Angeles.  After school he organized a boys and girls sports program designed to give inner-city children an alternative to the rough streets of Los Angeles. Todd traveled north to Sacramento and attended McGeorge School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1990.  During his law school career, he worked as an intern at the California Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office. In 1991, Todd went to work for John A. Barker & Associates, a law firm based in Madera, California, which operated as the county public defender.  He was later assigned as the Chief Defense Attorney of John A. Barker & Associates managing the Amador County office. In November 1998, Todd ran for Amador County District Attorney and was elected by the people of Amador County.  He was re-elected in June 2002, June 2006, and again in June 2010, running unopposed. Todd is active in the community coaching youth soccer, serving as a past president of the Jackson Lions Club, member of the Amador County Domestic Violence Council, member of the Mother Lode Youth Soccer League Board, Chair of the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team, and member of the California District Attorneys Association board of directors. Todd has been married to his wife Teresa for 25 years and they have four children, Matt, 17, Rachael, 15, Joshua, 12, and Elizabeth, 10.

Christine Ward  - Executive Director

Christine Ward has been assisting victims of crime and advocating for victims' rights for nearly two decades.  She began her career in victim assistance/advocacy answering the crisis hotline at her local domestic violence center and providing accompaniment to sexual assault victims.  Ms. Ward has since worked for centers across the country, developing and managing programs that assist victims of violent crimes. Ms. Ward is an accomplished trainer and speaker and presents on a variety of topics including victim support/assistance, victim advocacy, and professional and personal development.  Ms. Ward has created outreach tools to improve awareness, and encourage activism, around issues pertaining to victims of crime, crime prevention and victims' rights.  She is the co-creator of the internationally recognized Watch Your Drink - Watch Your Friends drug facilitated sexual assault educational program and has presented on this program across the US and Canada. Ms. Ward has also worked extensively with various law enforcement agencies to improve communication with and assistance to victims of crime. Ms. Ward has received several awards and recognition for her work assisting victims and in advancing victims' rights.  In 2006 Ms. Ward was honored with a special recognition award from the Trenton, New Jersey Police Department for her service and dedication to victims of domestic violence and for her commitment to the training of the Trenton Police Officers.  In 2008 she was honored with the California Governor's Crime Victim Advocacy Award for her dedication to serving victims of violent crime.  In 2009 she was appointed by the Governor to the Domestic Violence Program Advisory Council under the California Emergency Management Agency. Ms.Ward holds a BA is psychology and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Public Administration.  Ms. Ward is a survivor of violent crime and has been active with the Alliance since its inception in 1992.

Advisory Board Members

Tamra Bailey, Victim Advocate

Joe Baumann

Wendy Beaulieu, Victim Advocate

Cliff Costa

David Dahle, Deputy District Attorney - Head Deputy, Lifer Hearings Program, Los Angels County

Evan Miller, Deputy District Attorney, San Diego County

Ryan Sherman

Sherri Stromlund, Victim Advocate

Bradley Weinreb, Deputy Attorney General, San Diego County

Honorary Board Members

Former San Diego City Attorney Casey Gwinn

Congressman Daniel E. Lungren

California State Senator Jeff Denham

Congressman Ted Poe