Marquette County
Mitigation Services Program Director
Jessica Olson is a licensed social worker and has been advocating on behalf of justice involved individuals since 2015.
Email me:
jolson@mqtco.org
Jessica is a Forensic Social Worker who holds a Master’s of Social Work degree from Northern Michigan University. With a lens toward rehabilitation and treatment, Jessica passionately and zealously advocates for our clients utilizing a trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths based approach. She works closely with our clients and their legal team to develop a plan to address the predisposing and collateral consequences of their criminal justice involvement. This work is instrumental in the development of alternative sentencing recommendations that reduce or eliminate jail time for our clients.
Jessica has a background and experience working with individuals in a variety of capacities including mental health, substance abuse, and crisis intervention. She regularly serves as trainer and presenter on topics such as trauma-informed practices in the criminal justice system, holistic defense, and motivational interviewing practices in corrections. Jessica serves as a field instructor responsible for supervising students studying social work at the bachelor and masters level.
Marquette County
Mitigation Advocate
Matthew LaFountain is a licensed community health worker who has been advocating on behalf of individuals since 2021.
Email me:
mlafountain@mqtco.org
Matt is a Ferris State University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Science and an Associate’s degree in Radiography. His academic journey instilled a profound commitment to the underserved communities in the Upper Peninsula. Matt’s unwavering dedication brought him back to the U.P, where he advocates for individuals linked with the justice system. He collaborates closely with our clients and their legal representatives to create an alternative plan with recommendations that could curtail or terminate jail sentencing.
Matt has extensive experience working in clinical settings with individuals who have been exposed to homelessness, mental health issues, and substance abuse. His primary focus is on bridging gaps and providing the appropriate assistance needed to our clients. Matt finds working with underserved populations particularly rewarding, with the ultimate goal of ensuring everyone has equal opportunities within the justice system.
Supporting Mitigation Team members
Paige Kettelhut is a Minnesota native and chose Northern Michigan University for the shores of Lake Superior and vast opportunities for outdoor activities. She is currently pursing a degree in Social Work with a minor in Human Behavior. She plans on graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in May of 2024 and will be applying for the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program this winter. Her interests are in trauma informed care, trauma outcomes, and childhood mental health. Working on the mitigation team is important to her because it provides her the opportunity to aid in social justice, better the community, and impact client’s wellbeing. Paige hopes to use her experiences at the Marquette County Public Defenders Office to pursue a career in the juvenile court system or to practice in a rehabilitation facility for children.
Alexis B. DeMenter is from a little bit of everywhere, but moved to Marquette after graduating from Bay De Noc Community College in Escanaba with an Associates of Liberal Arts degree in May of 2019. She then attended Northern Michigan University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science majoring in psychology and criminal justice. She is currently employed at Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan as the Social Services Worker of one of the homes. The population she works with includes adolescents and teenagers that have different degrees of troubled pasts. She is currently enrolled in the Regular Standing Masters of Social Work Program at Northern Michigan University and is an intern at the Marquette County Public Defender’s Office. She enjoys working with all different populations within the field of social work and is looking forward to gaining valuable knowledge throughout her internship as well as the experience of working within the legal system. As of right now, she is unsure where this path will take her, but is excited for the journey.
.
Office of the Public Defender 