Commissioners:

Ron Haws has been named Commissioner for the Department of Juvenile Justice. 

Prior to the appointment, Haws was the Western Kentucky Regional Director for the Department of Juvenile Justice, and is a former Facilities Regional Administrator with the agency.   In addition, he has served in several capacities with the Illinois Department of Corrections' Juvenile Division, including Superintendent and District Parole Supervisor.  

A graduate of Bradley University with a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Haws has taught school and coached football, and served as Director of Youth Services for Peoria, Illinois.   

Ann-Lynn Ellerkamp has been named Deputy Commissioner of Support Services for the Department of Juvenile Justice, supervising Placement, Administrative, Medical and Program Services along with the Professional Services Division .

Ellerkamp is a former head teacher with the Audubon Youth Development Center and Cardinal Treatment Center in Louisville.   As a former teacher in Jefferson County, she received several grants and awards for her work, and served as President of the State Agency Children's School Administrator's Association.  

Ellerkamp is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and holds a Master's of Education from the University of Louisville. 

Ann brings exceptional talent and experience to the critical area of providing prevention programs, treatment and accountability to our troubled youth.     

Sherre Smith-Jones is the Deputy Commissioner for the Community and Mental Health Services Division in the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice.  She oversees a division comprised of the director, managers, supervisors, and juvenile services workers who are charged with providing case management and community supervision for probated and committed public offenders, sex offenders, and sentenced youthful offenders.  Ms. Smith-Jones has been working with juvenile offenders and their families for 25 years in the Jefferson County system, Kentucky Social Services, and with Juvenile Justice.

Prior to having oversight for the Community and Mental Health Services Division as Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Smith-Jones served as Division Director for the Community Services Division for three years.  Previous experience also includes service as director for several residential, group homes, and day treatment programs in the central area of Kentucky.  She has also served as Director for Quality Assurance and Grants Management for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Ms. Smith-Jones has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Kentucky University and post graduate studies in Business Administration.

A. Hasan Davis is the founder of Empowerment Solutions, which offers training and resources to correctional facilities, community organizations, schools and non-profit groups nationwide in areas relating to youth, race, cultural dynamics and arts education. 

Previously, he served as Director of Cultural Arts Outreach for Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and was Co-Manager for the Rockefeller Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Program.  He is a former director for the National Conference for Communities and Justice’s Camp Anytown, and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Youth Violence Prevention Project.

In addition, Davis serves as chair of the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, a position he’s held for 10 years, and has been vice chair of the Federal Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee for three years.  He’s also a board member of the National Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and the Council for the Education of At-Risk and Delinquent Youth. 

A 1992 graduate of Berea College, he also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law.