(Photo courtesy of Jazmine Goode)
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Growing up, Jazmine Goode enjoyed watching criminal justice-based television shows and went on to earn her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Ferris State University.
During her time there, she was named homecoming queen in 2014, was chapter president of You Beautiful Black Woman; received the Ferris State Community Service Award and won the Malcolm X Outstanding Leadership Award in 2016.
Goode completed a network session with the Detroit Police Department and, during one summer, externed with the Michigan Department of Corrections, an experience that sparked an interest in the corrections field and possible job opportunities.
After graduation, Goode spent a year as an administrative assistant at Wayne County Circuit Court Friend of the Court.
“I enjoyed the connections I made daily with the amazing court staff,” she said. “I enjoyed helping with the public when my role called for it. And lastly, I enjoyed sitting in on court hearings and learning about Family Court.”
Goode then returned to the MDOC, spending 5-1/2 years as a parole agent in Wayne County, supervising returning citizens with their transition back into the community.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “I made sure they followed all parole conditions set by the parole board, worked with community-based services to help them find jobs, stable homes and address any educational needs. I also partnered and collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in the area with home visits and criminal investigations.
In every position she’s held, Good said her fellow workers “were always my favorite part of the job. MDOC truly has some hard-working employees and the office I worked became another extension of my family.”
Despite her love of MDOC work, Goode had always had an interest in becoming an attorney —and headed to Detroit Mercy Law last year.
“After completing five years with the Michigan Department of Corrections, I realized I wanted to do more for the community which I served and more for myself,” she said. “I finally decided it was my time to follow my dream by attending law school.
“I'm passionate about the law because there are so many different parts and there is a non-stop ability of learning new things as the law continues to change.”
Now a rising 2L, Goode is still exploring where her legal focus and interest will lie.
“But I'm excited about what the future holds and the connections I can make in the legal field to truly decide a legal focus,” she said. “I have faith over the next two years God will keep directing my path.”
In the meantime, Goode is enjoying her law school experience.
“I appreciate Detroit Mercy Law has a strong focus on the success of its law students and strongly encourages us to network and connect with the legal community surrounding us,” she said.
This summer, Goode completed an internship with Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“I was allowed to see civil and criminal cases on a federal level all while improving my legal writing and research skills with the amazing court staff assigned to Judge Grey,” she said. “I furthered my connections with other interns from various law schools here in Michigan and in the Midwest.
“The court did a great job allowing interns to explore different careers and departments connected to the courts on both a state and federal level. Best way to spend my 1L summer!”
A Detroit native, Goode has a lot of family members in the area.
“Family means everything to me — I say all the time that I have the best family in the world,” she said. “My family continues to support, love and encourage me. My main goal is to make my family proud with every new journey I take.”
Goode also is passionate about the Motor City and all it has to offer.
“I love everything about Detroit — from the people, the culture, how it continues to improve each day, the amazing restaurants and the social events and activities,” she said. “Detroit has a strong history, and most important it’s where my family lives. Detroit is truly like no other city and I’m always proud to say I’m from Detroit.
Goode is a proud product of the Detroit PAL Youth League, where she now coaches cheerleading for girls ages 5 to 14, and enjoys connecting each summer with new and returning cheerleaders.
“Coaching the Detroit Seahawks is easy with the staff set in place,” she added. “The Detroit Seahawks is an amazing program truly for the kids. I love helping build them in this sport and being a mentor to them. Those I coach with or have been coached by, have an incredible impact on my life and have become a part of my support system.”
Goode was named Detroit Seahawks Coach of the Year in 2018.
“All the awards I've ever won have always come as a surprise to me,” she said. “I try my best to just work hard and give everything my all. A college mentor once told me your actions matter when no one is watching, but you never know when someone is.
“Winning Coach of the Year and the Malcolm X Leadership Award were both special moments but I'm grateful for those that paved the way before me and set an example of what a true leader entails.”
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