Mark Cooke
Former Policy Director, ACLU of Washington Smart Justice Project
“My job is to advocate for decreasing the number of people pushed into the criminal justice system by replacing criminal sanctions with public health and civil alternatives.”
Mark came to the ACLU-WA as a law student intern before joining our staff in 2008. He worked on drug policy reform for five years, and now is developing broader policy strategies to reduce over-incarceration. Previously, Mark worked as a guardian ad litem in Atlanta, a child care worker and supervisor in the foster care system in San Diego, and as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters in St. Louis. His interest in drug policy was sparked at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, where he worked on needle exchange, methamphetamine policy, and rural substance abuse while studying law and social work at Washington University. Outside of work, Mark loves spending time with his family and his dog Lewis.
Mark came to the ACLU-WA as a law student intern before joining our staff in 2008. He worked on drug policy reform for five years, and now is developing broader policy strategies to reduce over-incarceration. Previously, Mark worked as a guardian ad litem in Atlanta, a child care worker and supervisor in the foster care system in San Diego, and as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters in St. Louis. His interest in drug policy was sparked at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, where he worked on needle exchange, methamphetamine policy, and rural substance abuse while studying law and social work at Washington University. Outside of work, Mark loves spending time with his family and his dog Lewis.
