Barbara Hanson Treen was well prepared for the task of becoming a parole commissioner for the State of New York following her work in alternatives to incarceration, drug programs and as a jail standards specialist at New York City's infamous Rikers Island. Following her twelve years on the parole board she was the director of a mentoring program for women transitioning from prison. She lives, writes and consults in Maine and can be reached at btreen@maine.rr.com.