Current Members:
- Aaron Adkins
- Sheba Candor
- Tanya Joyce
- Yvette Klepin
- Amy Lansing
- Stephanie Ortega
- Caitlin Radigan
- Jean Teresa Ramirez
Bios:
Aaron Adkins
Sheba Candor
Sheba Candor has worked in the legal field for 20 years in multiple capacities as a legal assistant, legal research librarian, office manager, paralegal, and law firm administrator. Currently, she is the Law Firm Administrator and a Paralegal where she manages staff and oversees all aspects of human resources and business management. Candor is an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sciences Public Administration graduating summa cum laude from San Diego State University. In addition, she holds three associate degrees in Paralegal Studies, Legal Administration, and Public Administration.
Tanya Joyce
Tanya Joyce began her career as a juvenile Deputy Probation Officer in Los Angeles County, where she was assigned as a case-carrying officer as well as assisting with wards in juvenile camps and detention centers. She then became an attorney and worked as a Riverside County Deputy Public Defender handling multiple types of cases including youth representation in juvenile court. Ms. Joyce then transferred to the Riverside County Office of County Counsel, where she was assigned as a full-time trial Deputy in juvenile dependency court, representing the Department of Public Social Services’ child protective services in abuse and neglect cases. She handled all aspects of juvenile court work, including appeals, guardianship, adoption, and presentation of training. Ms. Joyce finished her career with a 9-year stint at County Counsel in San Diego County, where she continued her work as a juvenile dependency trial attorney and later became an advisory attorney in the North County region office. Her duties included handling daily multidisciplinary team meetings, screening cases for filing, all international and immigration matters involving foreign-born children, repatriations, Non-Minor Dependents, LGBTQ youth law and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions. Tanya, a first-generation Central American, retired in March, 2024 after over 30 years working with youth and children in the juvenile justice system.
Yvette D. Klepin was a San Diego County resident for 61 years and has more than 26 years’ experience with the County of San Diego Probation Department; retiring as Assistant Chief Probation Officer. Yvette is experienced in program and personnel development and in developing and guiding policy. She has more than twelve (12) years’ experience in juvenile institutions and six (6) years in working with youth in the community. Yvette remains active in the Criminal Justice field consulting, training, and conducting Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) audits in juvenile facilities throughout the nation.
Amy Lansing is on faculty at the University of California, San Diego, in the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and is also an adjunct professor in the Sociology Department, Division of Criminology, at San Diego State University. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with specializations in Neuropsychology, Developmental Trauma and Forensic Epidemiology. Her National Institute of Health and National Institute of Child and Human Development funded translational research program is dedicated to understanding the neurobehavioral underpinnings of high-risk behaviors and functional impairment in underserved populations such as juvenile delinquents and maltreated youth. This program integrates neuroscience technologies (imaging, genetics), mental health services (treatment for trauma spectrum and drug/alcohol disorders; interventions for violence and impulsivity reduction), neuropsychology, criminology and public policy issues (health disparities, HIV/STD risk). In addition to the Juvenile Justice Commission, she is an independent contractor for the State of California, providing assessments of mentally disordered adult offenders. Her interest in the JJC stems from the significant number of delinquent youth with cognitive deficits, neurological and mental health needs.
Stephanie Ortega
Stephanie Ortega is a San Diego native and the Chief Operating Officer at a local nonprofit with a mission to create a brighter future for foster children. Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in law and Society, with a minor in Spanish, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed her master’s degree in forensic psychology at Argosy University in Washington, D.C. Stephanie advocates for all children to be afforded the same opportunities and have a consistent person to rely on in their lives.
Caitlin Radigan
Caitlin Radigan an SDSU graduate, book author, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur. Her passion for empowering youth and removing barriers for families stems from her own experiences as a single mother, first generation student, and former foster youth. In addition to managing her various small businesses, Caitlin currently serves as a full-time staff member of a local non-profit providing essential resources and services to former foster youth aging out of the system. Her work has consisted of advocating to county, state, and federal legislators from San Diego to Washington DC to elevate bi-partisan issues for youth impacted by sex-trafficking, foster care, and the juvenile justice system.
Jean Teresa Ramirez was an attorney with the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office before joining the full-time faculty of the University of San Diego School of Law in 1990. Upon joining the faculty, she taught Advanced Trial Advocacy and was co-director of the law school’s Juvenile Defense Clinic, also known as the Criminal Clinic. She teaches Criminal Law, Evidence, California Criminal Litigation Skills, and Juvenile Law. She has served as a CASA or Court-Appointed Special Advocate for individual children and sibling groups in the juvenile dependency system.