Jerry McElroy, a Champion and Professional of Pretrial, Passes Away

Jerry McElroy, the Executive Director of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency from 1989 to 2016 passed away on May 20th, 2022, at Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ. Our thoughts go out to his wife, Sue; his daughters, Eileen, Erin, and Ciara and all his family.

We are so fortunate that Jerry dedicated his entire working life to criminal justice working on New York and national concerns. Entering Fordham College at age 16, he stayed for many years, majoring in Sociology, earning his Masters’ and completing all-but-his-dissertation for his doctorate. He taught courses at Fordham University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He led research at the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services from 1969 to 1977. He was the associate director of the Vera Institute of Justice from 1977 to 1989. He was a pioneer in the study and implementation of community policing and co-authored a book Community Policing: The CPOP of New York, amongst numerous other publications. He later became Director of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency, where he tirelessly sought to create fairness and enlarge justice in New York City and became known as a national leader in Pretrial Services. He led CJA from 1989 until his retirement in 2016.

We at NYAPSA remember Jerry fondly for all his effort in the criminal justice community and the assistance he gave to NYAPSA. He was dedicated to criminal justice initiatives in New York always willing to help state and local officials and programs in the pursuit of justice initiatives and best criminal justice practices. He received both highest award (the Olgiati Award) from both NYAPSA and the National Association of Pretrial Services. He will be sorely missed. He lived life as a masterful champion of goodness, compassion, and justice.