Welcome!
Marcy is an attorney, strategic advisor, and seasoned educator with a genuine passion for strengthening leadership, policy, and programming across law enforcement and corrections. With over a decade of hands-on experience in higher education, correctional programming, and legal practice, she brings pragmatic energy to every partnership — turning research and legal principle into real, workable solutions agencies can put to use right away.
Her background includes serving as a Community Advisor and Department of Justice Liaison for the Palmdale Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and as a faculty member of the Rising Scholars Program within Los Angeles County detention centers. Most recently, she joined her alma mater Texas State University as a Lecturer in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Marcy is also the founder of the Criminal Justice Leadership, Innovation & Policy Initiative (CJ-LIP) — her newest venture, built to bring fresh energy and innovation to leadership, policy, and programming across the field.
Marcy Calnan, J.D., M.Ed.
Attorney, Strategic Advisor & Professor
Marcy Calnan is a strategic advisor, professor, attorney, and keynote speaker specializing in cultivating strong community connections and confidence in policing practices and carceral programs. She works with academic institutions, community organizations, corrections, and law enforcement agencies to guide them with pragmatic enthusiasm and elevate their leadership vision to new heights.
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RELATED EXPERIENCE
2022-Present
Attorney | Strategic Advisor | Executive Educator
LAW OFFICE OF MARCY A. CALNAN
Advises law enforcement agencies, correctional organizations, higher education institutions, and public-sector partners on leadership, policy, programming, and legal risk — with practical strategies agencies can act on immediately. Recent engagements include the National Institute of Corrections, Lexipol, the Collin County Sheriff's Office, the Yoakum County Sheriff's Office, and BKV Group.
2026-Present
Lecturer
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Teaches Contemporary Legal Issues in Corrections, Ethics in the Criminal Justice System, Incarceration in America, Wrongful Convictions, and Criminal Justice Leadership. Personally designed several of these courses to blend legal analysis with practitioner perspectives, including building in correctional facility tours, guest speakers from the field, and site visits to area jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities. Bringing real-world practitioner energy into the classroom.
2011-Present
Adnunct Faculty
COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS
Tenured Faculty in the Paralegal Studies and Non-Credit Departments. Program Development Team Member in the Law School Pathway, the Dual Enrollment Program and the Non-Credit Rising Scholars Program for the California Department of Corrections. Courses Taught: Introduction to Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Legal Ethics, Understanding a Criminal Record.
EDUCATION
1996-1999
Juris Doctor
SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL
Coursework of Interest: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, White Collar Crime, Federal Courts
Volunteerism: Law Clerk at Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court
2002-2005
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Coursework of Interest: Diverse Classrooms, Children’s Multicultural Literature, Educational Diversity and Change
Master's of Education
1992-1995
Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice
Cum Laude
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Coursework of Interest: Criminology, Crime in America, Police Systems and Practices, Advance Criminal Justice Management, Special Problems in Criminal Justice
AFFILIATIONS
SERVICES
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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Conferences
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Organizational Events
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Community Engagements
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Panel Moderator
LEADERSHIP & POLICY
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Strategic Leadership Consulting
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Policy Audit & Review
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Policy Development
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Staff Training
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Legal Risk Review
PROGRAMMING
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Correctional Programming Design
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Personnel Interviews
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Reentry Initiatives
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Best Practices Recommendations
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
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TCOLE Subject Matter Expert
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Flexible Timing
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Virtual or In-Person
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Executive & Staff Training
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Train-the-Trainer Model
EXPERTISE
I'M A COMMUNITY ADVISOR
I'M A SUPPORTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS
I'M AN EDUCATION ADVOCATE
As a strategic advisor, I get to work directly with agency leadership on the policy, programming, and organizational challenges that keep them up at night — and I love finding practical fixes fast. My roots are as Community Advisor and Department of Justice Liaison for the Palmdale Station of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and I've carried that same energy into speaking engagements like the National Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference, where I talked about building real partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
My empathy extends to both the community and the men and women in law enforcement and corrections. I graduated from the Collin County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy, was named 2023 Volunteer of the Year, and now serve as Editor of Key Issues for the Texas Jail Association — work that earned me the Association's 2024 President's Distinguished Service Award. In 2025, I was honored to be featured as a national subject-matter expert in Police1/Lexipol's "25 on 2025: A Police Leadership Playbook."
As an attorney, professor, and lifelong education advocate, I'm energized by making sure every person — especially those inside the corrections system — has real access to education and the resources to succeed. That passion now extends beyond the classroom through the Criminal Justice Leadership, Innovation & Policy Initiative (CJ-LIP), where I'm channeling that same drive into applied research and executive education for the field at large.