Derek Oberlander (Co-Founder)

Derek Oberlander has over 28-years of corrections, parole, and law enforcement experience, coupled with 13-years of counseling experience. In June of 2022, Derek left public service and retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) with 23-years of service. Before retiring, he served as the Superintendent of SCI Forest, a maximum-security state correctional institution, where he was responsible for overseeing 655 staff, 2,300 incarcerated people, and a combined personnel and operating budget in excess of $95 million. During his time with the PADOC, Derek collaborated with the National Network for Safe Communities and led the implementation of a focused deterrence- based violence reduction strategy pilot program at SCI Forest. The pilot program resulted in a reduction of violence at the facility and was implemented statewide in 2019. Derek also served on a committee with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections tasked with developing a standardized schedule for staffing at all the PADOC facilities. Derek also served as a Parole Agent and Acting Parole Supervisor with the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. He is a 2008 graduate of the Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Executive Institute and holds a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, a Master of Science in Law and Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Science. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania. Derek is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served as a Military Police Officer and Embassy Guard.