After reading about a schizophrenic man on death row in her native Pakistan, Shambaleed Nayyer ’22 was determined to create a fairer justice system that decriminalizes mental illness. She came to the United States and enrolled at John Jay College with hopes of earning a degree in forensic psychology and engaging in opportunities that would give her the tools and experience to make change happen back home.

One such opportunity came in the form of the New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship, which would support year-long internships at leading criminal justice organizations. “When I learned I was a winner of the 2021-2022 New York Giants Touchdown Fellowship I felt so many emotions,” says Nayyer. “I was shocked because I couldn’t believe I had won such a prestigious and competitive fellowship. I was extremely grateful for the support of the New York Giants. And, I was excited to gain real-world experience in the field of forensic psychology and criminal justice reform.”

Being a New York Giants Touchdown Fellow
As a New York Giants Touchdown Fellow, Nayyer was able to immerse herself in the powerful work being done at Manhattan Justice Opportunities, a program of the Center for Court Innovation that provides social services and resources to system-impacted individuals in order to reduce the rate of criminal convictions and incarceration for low-level offenses. Working on several projects during the fellowship, she researched different Felony Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) programs across the country, learning more about the programs and exploring unique ways to improve the Manhattan Justice Opportunities’ programming, and she regularly updated compliance reports for participants with upcoming court dates. “The fellowship truly changed my perspective of the criminal legal system. I was able to interact with formerly incarcerated people who were bright, thoughtful, and full of ambition,” says Nayyer, appreciative of the opportunity. “People should not be defined by their worst moment. When provided with proper support and opportunity, change can and will take place for the better. Regardless of our experiences, everyone has something to teach, and we all have more to learn from others.”

Finding Her Passion
Nayyer was born with an intrinsic love for forensic psychology, but her passion for criminal justice surfaced while she was at school in Pakistan and read about the case of Imdad Ali. “He had been suffering from schizophrenia and was declared clinically insane before being sentenced and put on death row,” she explains. “Being a psychology student and understanding the underlying mechanisms of mental illness, I was in shock to hear this verdict. How can a man who hears voices, is delusional, suffers from a persecutory complex and does not even understand the concept of crime and punishment be sentenced to death?” The case led to her decision to go to college in the United States and coming to John Jay. “I began to form an interest in the legal system and started reading about police interrogation tactics, false confessions, and the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. That’s when I found my passion and decided to go to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. John Jay is truly the Ivy League for criminal justice and forensic studies.”  

Creating Change
With the skills gained as a New York Giants Touchdown Fellow, Nayyer feels prepared for the future. She hopes to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, work with youth impacted by the criminal legal system, and reduce the criminalization of people with mental illness. “Because of the experiences I formed from this fellowship and working with people impacted by the criminal legal system, I’m sure, now more than ever, about my ability to become a forensic psychologist,” she says, elaborating on her goals. “I wish to conduct long-term research and create a more valid measure of diagnosis that will help tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in my country. Ultimately, my dream is to become involved in policy making. I want to propose laws that decriminalize mental illness and support people impacted by the criminal legal system. With the support of the New York Giants and John Jay, I know I can make that dream come true.”