Commissioner Sharun Goodwin Biography

Sharun Goodwin serves as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation (DOP), bringing nearly four decades of experience and a deeply rooted commitment to justice, equity, and opportunity for New Yorkers. A 38-year veteran of the agency, Commissioner Goodwin has devoted her career to supporting people on probation and helping individuals and families successfully transition out of the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Commissioner Goodwin began her journey with DOP in 1986 as an intern and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as a Probation Officer Trainee, Probation Officer, Court Liaison Officer, Supervising Probation, Officer, Branch Chief, Assistant Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner of Adult Operations before retiring in 2024. Throughout her tenure, she earned national recognition for championing innovative, community-centered approaches that meet the diverse needs of those under supervision. She played a key role in pioneering transformative initiatives focused on education, employment, and meaningful engagement, including the nationally recognized Arches Transformative Mentoring Program, the Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), and the “Anyone Can Excel” model — programs that have helped redefine probation as a pathway to opportunity and long-term success.

Now returning to lead the agency she helped shape, Commissioner Goodwin is advancing a renewed vision for probation in New York City — one grounded in fairness, accountability, and second chances. Commissioner Goodwin holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Utica University.