Prison Fellowship’s Advocacy and Public Policy Team

HEATHER RICE-MINUS

Director of Government Affairs

Heather Rice-Minus serves as director of government affairs at Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. She is a powerful, knowledgeable voice articulating the case for restorative criminal justice solutions.

As leader of Prison Fellowship’s policy staff, Rice-Minus directs lobbying, research, and legislative campaigns on pivotal criminal justice issues at the state and federal levels. She also spearheads its efforts to build coalitions with advocacy groups, think tanks, faith-based organizations, and other key stakeholders in Washington.

Rice-Minus has contributed to stories about criminal justice reform in outlets including Slate, CBN News, PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, and World magazine. Though sought after for her wide-ranging policy expertise, Rice-Minus is also personally vested in justice reform as someone who has both been a victim of crime and walked alongside a family member during his incarceration.

A native of Virginia, Rice-Minus resides in Washington, with her husband. Prior to her tenure at Prison Fellowship, she managed advocacy efforts on behalf of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. She is a graduate of George Mason University School of Law and Colorado State University. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

KATE TRAMMELL

Senior State Campaign Manager

Kate Trammell serves Prison Fellowship as the senior state campaign manager, overseeing state policy campaigns on criminal justice and juvenile justice reform. While coordinating with state coalition partners and policymakers, Trammell plans and supervises legislative research in support of federal and state advocacy priorities. She serves as primary facilitator of the Faith and Justice Fellowship, a bipartisan body of members of Congress, governors, and state legislators motivated by their faith traditions to advance restorative values in criminal justice reform. Prior to joining Prison Fellowship, Trammell worked as a magistrate for the Supreme Court of Virginia. She is a graduate of the Liberty University School of Law and is a member of the Virginia Bar. 

CAITLIN DAWKINS

Senior Program Services Coordinator

Caitlin Dawkins serves Prison Fellowship as the senior program services coordinator, planning and facilitating projects and events for the organization's advocacy and public policy work. With extensive project management experience, Dawkins works to build awareness and develop a network of support for the formerly incarcerated. She also researches and drafts communications to help challenge and shape public perceptions of those who have paid their debt to society and want to become productive citizens. Before joining Prison Fellowship, Dawkins was a regional capacity coach in South Carolina, providing technical assistance, strategic plan development, deliverable and project evaluation, and budget management. She holds an MBA from Strayer University with an emphasis on project management and a bachelor’s degree from Winston-Salem State University.

JILL SULLIVAN

Advocacy Volunteer Coordinator

Sullivan joined Prison Fellowship in January 2016. As advocacy volunteer coordinator, Sullivan works with a network of high impact volunteers to pursue restorative justice values in our law and culture. She coordinates and equips these volunteers to raise awareness about people impacted by crime and incarceration in their churches and communities and to engage in the legislative process. Before joining Prison Fellowship, Sullivan directed alumni programs at Georgetown University and Episcopal High School. She most recently served as communications director of a local church. Sullivan holds a Master’s degree from Miami University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond.