Delrice Adams joined ICJIA as Executive Director on January 4, 2020. Executive Director Adams is a social service and public health administrator with over 25 years of experience in management of non-profits and local government agencies. Her areas of expertise include criminal justice, violence prevention and racial equity. She has a wealth of experience in grant administration, program development, community and stakeholder engagement, and policy and planning implementation. She will be responsible for the direction of the agency, determining agency priorities, and administering resources and programs needed to meet agency goals. She also will serve as liaison to the governor, General Assembly, ICJIA Board members, and state and national criminal justice officials and organizations.

Prior to joining ICJIA, Executive Director Adams served as Executive Director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC), where she was responsible for overseeing the public safety agenda for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. In that role, Executive Director Adams was tasked with coordinating criminal and juvenile justice reform efforts in Cook County while preserving public safety and promoting fair and equitable access to justice. Executive Director Adams also managed the county’s grants for program services to address violence prevention, recidivism reduction and restorative justice.

Prior to serving with the JAC, Executive Director Adams worked for the City of Chicago Department of Public Health Office of Violence Prevention and Behavioral Health. As a Public Health Administrator, she oversaw the Community Development Block Grant portfolio of Restorative Justice and Violence Prevention Initiatives for the office and coordinated multiple community partners and stakeholders as a committee lead for Healthy Chicago 2.0, the city’s five-year strategic plan. Executive Director Adams also served as a Local Office Administrator for the Illinois Department of Human Services, where she developed service delivery strategies and workforce programs to advance welfare reform efforts.

Executive Director Adams is a 2019 Chicago United for Equity fellow. She is a certified Trauma- Informed Trainer (CDPH, 2018). She is also a trained Circle Keeper. Executive Director Adams received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley and holds a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.

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