Name:
Eric Schmidt
Board Role/Title:
President
Term of Service:
2017 - Present
Location (City/State):
Detroit Michigan
Professional Role/Organization:
Manager / Oakland County Pretrial & Justice Services
Tell us a little about yourself and your professional background.
I began my career in 1995 as a Pretrial Services Investigator for Oakland County, Michigan. Over the next 31 years, I would remain with the same organization holding many positions throughout the organization. The one I enjoyed the most was spending 16 years as the Supervisor for Oakland County Pretrial Services. In 2020, I completed my master’s degree in public administration, and shortly after was promoted Manager overseeing both pretrial and post-conviction programming.
What inspired you to get involved with NAPSA?
After attending many NAPSA conferences, I started to understand the needs of practitioners nationally. I too had a desire to learn, to professionally grow, and push myself to continue bringing best practices to my organization. It was then that I joined the NAPSA Education Committee. My involvement in that committee motivated me to look for more ways to help the field, so I ran for the Midwest Regional Director.
What motivated you to serve on the NAPSA Board?
During my time on the NAPSA Education Committee, the people I met inspired me to keep learning, contributing, and gave me the inspiration to run for a board position. I am hopeful that I can contribute transparent leadership, fairness, and inspire others on the board to be creative, innovative, and together we will continue moving NAPSA forward.
What area of NAPSA’s work are you most passionate about?
The areas of NAPSA’s work that I am most passionate about are really the overarching goal to educate the field on best practices in pretrial. It’s been exciting two years with innovation, webinars, a new leadership session, and hosting a conference that educates not just pretrial professionals, but judicial officers and prosecutors / defense attorney’s alike.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity—or challenge—facing pretrial services today?
One of the biggest opportunities for pretrial services today is to continue building supportive services into supervision strategies and thinking critically about managing court ordered compliance in a way that supports people, provides recommendations for alternatives to revocation for technical violations, but when necessary, assists the court in determining who pose an articulable risk to public safety. These opportunities need to involve all system stakeholders.
How does your background or perspective strengthen the Board?
During my 31 year career in the pretrial services field, I have a good understanding of the needs of both practitioners and stakeholders. I have a collaborative approach, believe in transparency, and have a leadership style that welcomes the voices of not just the executive board, but all board members. I believe that this combination of leadership style, experience, and direct communication will help strengthen the board.
What accomplishment—professionally or personally—are you most proud of?
I’m very proud to have maintained such a long career within one organization. The field, system culture, and most recent system collaboration with all stakeholders in my home jurisdiction is something I’m professionally proud to have been a participant in. Personally, I am most proud of being a dad to my 12-year-old daughter.
What advice would you give to someone new to pretrial services or NAPSA?
My first suggestion to someone new to pretrial services would reflect the need to fully understand the court rules and / or bail statutes of the jurisdiction they work in. Second, I would recommend the review of the NAPSA Standards, and that they work within their agency to implement as many as possible. As the field continues changing, everyone needs to keep evolving themselves, their organizations, and their systems.
What do you hope NAPSA members know about the Board’s work?
I hope that NAPSA members know that the board continues to work for them, the field we all love, and that we are working tirelessly to bring education, training, and standards of excellence for pretrial justice.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, our Australian Sheppard (Wynter), playing golf, traveling, and the sport of fowling.
Closing
I’ve enjoyed my time on the NAPSA board and it’s been my pleasure to have served as the Midwest Regional Director, the President-Elect, and now continue serving the members as the President.
