meet the board

Shawn Barrera-Leaf, a Michigan native, came to criminal legal system advocacy through lived experience. In August 2017, her son was convicted of a sex offense – an event that irrevocably changed her family’s life and reshaped her understanding of justice in America.  What once felt distant became deeply personal, and Shawn quickly recognized how profoundly inequitable and punitive the system can be for individuals, families, and communities impacted by sexual harm convictions.

In seeking support, Shawn connected with Michigan Citizens for Justice, where she found a community of individuals and families navigating similar challenges.  Through this work, she learned the importance of judgment-free spaces rooted in empathy, accountability, and support. These experiences reinforced her belief that meaningful community safety is achieved through education, prevention, and evidence-based policy – strengthened by collaboration with survivor-centered approaches and community stakeholders.

Shawn’s advocacy includes sustained engagement with legislators, policy leaders, and community partners at both the state and national levels.  She has provided live and written testimony on issues ranging from pretrial incarceration and bail reform to opposition to the Michigan Sex Offense Registry.  She is an active member of the Michigan ACLU Smart Justice Campaign and has contributed to public discourse through published writing and national media coverage, including CBS News reporting on the excessive financial burdens placed on incarcerated individuals and their families.

Shawn is the Executive Director of UV4SOR, an organization she helped build to elevate impacted voices, promote informed advocacy, and address the collateral consequences embedded in the criminal legal system for those convicted of sexual harm.  Under her leadership, UV4SOR has grown into a nationally known collaborative platform supporting individuals and families across every stage of the system – from pretrial through incarceration and community reintegration – while fostering partnerships focused on public safety, accountability, and policy modernization.

In addition to her role with UV4SOR, Shawn serves as a Board Member of CURE-SORT, sits on the Steering Committee of the National Coalition Against Conviction Registries (NCACR), is a PARSOL Advisory Board Member, and is an active stakeholder in the Grand Traverse County Quick Response Team (QRT) Task Force.  She is also a member of NARSOL, Women Against the Registry (WAR), and Michigan Citizens for Justice.

At the core of Shawn’s advocacy is a commitment to collaboration, education, and second chances.  She believes lasting change happens when communities are informed, survivor-centered perspectives are integrated, families are not discarded, and policies reflect both accountability and compassion.  Her work remains focused on advancing approaches that strengthen communities, enhance public safety, and uphold human dignity.