Brett Peterson is a nationally recognized leader in youth justice reform and implementation. With deep expertise in system operation and policy, he offers a unique ability to bridge complex policy theory with practical, real-world application. As the former Director of the Utah Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, Brett successfully oversaw the management of comprehensive care, from early intervention to secure facilities and parole. His leadership resulted in significant reforms, including landmark legislation that excluded youth under 12 from the formal system. Brett’s advocacy and expertise led to a more than 50% reduction in detention usage in Utah and the expansion of early intervention programs for thousands of youth.

Brett is the founder of Justice Path Advisors, where he leverages his extensive operational experience and trauma-informed perspective to help systems achieve excellence, accountability, and safety. A powerful and engaging speaker, he frequently addresses topics such as leadership, organizational culture, best practices, and policy frameworks. As the immediate past president of the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators, he has provided expert testimony to Congress and technical assistance to youth justice leaders in over 50 jurisdictions.

As a youth, Hasan barely stayed one step ahead of the law.  After an early arrest as a pre-teen, expulsion from alternative school and a lifelong struggle with learning and behavior challenges, ADHD, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Hasan earned his GED and with encouragement and support decided to leave the life he knew well, for one he could hardly imagine.

Hasan talked his way into Berea College. And although he was expelled twice, he returned a third time, determined to prove that failure would not be his lasting legacy. With the renewed mindset Hasan earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communications from Berea College and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Hasan has been recognized for his professional and personal efforts serving children, youth, and families across a continuum of care from early education to juvenile justice, child welfare, and the arts. He is a Rockefeller Foundation-Next Generation Leadership Fellow, a Council of State Governments-Henry Toll Fellow, an Education Trust-Family Education Fellow, and an Annie E. Casey-Children and Family Fellow.

While leading complex youth service organizations Hasan has held firm to the belief that all children can find success when the adults in their world create and nurture hope.

In 2012 Hasan became Kentucky’s fifth Commissioner of Juvenile Justice. During his tenure he was instrumental in reforming Kentucky’s juvenile justice system. He has served as Chair of Kentucky’s Statewide Advisory group on Juvenile Justice, Vice-Chair of the Federal Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and was recently appointed to Kentucky’s Children’s Justice Act Taskforce and currently serves and it’s Chair.

In 2015 Davis founded Hasan Davis Solutions to continue his work supporting youth and families across the nation by creating meaningful engagement, coaching, and training experiences for the amazing teams of professionals committed to transformational youth success in justice, education, and social service environments.

Hasan is also the author of four books and an actor, researching, producing and performing interpretative living history programs that highlight the important but often unacknowledged contributions of African Americans to the shaping of America. His most celebrated program chronicled the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition through the eyes of the mission’s most unique member, York the Black explorer enslaved by the expedition’s Co-Captain, William Clark.

Hasan lives in Berea Kentucky with his wife Dreama, a national Expert in Rural Access to cradle-to-career success and their two college age sons.