Peters is a member of CCJ’s Board of Trustees and served as a member of the Council’s National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice.
Colette S. Peters is currently the receiver-nominee for the Eastern District of California where she is developing an oversight plan for mental health services for California’s prison population.
Previously, she was the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons serving from August 2, 2022 until January 20, 2025. Peters oversaw the operation of 122 Bureau of Prisons facilities, six regional offices, two training centers, and 22 residential reentry management offices. She was also responsible for the oversight and management of approximately 35,000 employees and 160,000 adults in federal custody.
Peters has over 34 years of public safety experience. Before joining the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she served as director of the Oregon Department of Corrections. Appointed in 2012, she was the first woman to lead the department. Peters has a national reputation for advancing the principles of normalcy and humanity for those who work and live in prisons, for using data to improve outcomes for people in custody, increasing agency efficiency and effectiveness, and promoting employee wellness. Prior to her appointment in 2012, Peters ran the Oregon Youth Authority and served as a prison inspector general and victims’ advocate.
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