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Joi L. Owens

joi oJoi L. Owens's, 2016 National Juvenile Justice Fellow, advocacy project will focus on education in the juvenile justice system. Owens is the Managing Attorney and Legislative Liaison for Disability Rights Mississippi. She focuses on systemic reform related to people with disabilities in facilities and institution across the state of Mississippi. Joi advocates for juvenile justice reform, education reform, and criminal justice reform and represents incarcerated children and adults to address unconstitutional and abusive conditions in jails and juvenile detention centers. Youth with disabilities enter juvenile correctional facilities with educational, mental health, medical, and social needs. Owens will work with facilities in Mississippi to develop policies and procedures to ensure kids receive appropriate services. She received her B.A.in Speech Communication from Jackson State University and her law degree from Mississippi College School of Law.