Lori Scott-Pickens formerly served as Director of Community Outreach and NPSC Coordinator for the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ), where she worked with undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. She assisted students in accessing internships and opportunities to gain practical experience across the criminal justice continuum. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at SCJ and as Deputy Executive Director of SCJ’s Police Institute.

The Police Institute served as a neutral convener for several community and law enforcement collaborations, including Greater Newark Safer Cities, the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative, Operation Ceasefire, the Gun Strategy, and the Newark Violence Reduction Initiative. It also supported four of New Jersey’s five Fugitive Safe Surrender programs—held in Newark, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, and Jersey City—through which New Jersey led the nation in serving more than 17,000 participants.

Scott-Pickens has an extensive background in community organizing at the local, state, and national levels and has provided consultation and technical assistance to a wide range of stakeholders. She serves as a board member for two of Newark’s premier community organizations: Newark School of the Arts and Unified Vailsburg Services Organization. She is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Team for the Essex County Youth Services Commission and previously served as Co-Chair of the statewide Juvenile Reentry Coordinating Council. Throughout her career, Scott-Pickens has worked closely with government agencies, faith-based institutions, residents, and community-based organizations on restorative justice, community policing, and prisoner reentry initiatives. She has also served in an advisory capacity on issues related to criminal and social justice.

In addition, Scott-Pickens served as a board member of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Policing Resource Advisory Board, following her appointment during the Clinton administration. She remains actively involved in organizations focused on criminal and social justice at both the local and national levels. Scott-Pickens has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Montclair State University and a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University.