About me
Joanne Peña holds an Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. With a career rooted in public defense, she began her legal journey at the Commonwealth Attorney's Office before joining the Petersburg Public Defender's Office in 2005. Throughout her career, Joanne has been a passionate advocate for indigent clients, securing numerous not-guilty verdicts and championing the pursuit of justice. Her groundbreaking work in defense has been featured in a four-part investigative series on Channel 8, which examined discovery practices in Virginia, as well as contributing to a federal investigation into the local police department.
In recent years, Joanne has focused on leveraging insights from jury trials to develop sophisticated profiles of potential jurors, ultimately helping to secure the best outcomes for clients. She has taught at new attorney boot camps, presented at the NAPD’s We The Defenders Conference, and shared her expertise at the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys Conference.
In 2019, Joanne was honored with an appointment by the Governor to the Board of Local and Regional Jails, where she served for one year.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Joanne is a dedicated mother of two daughters. She is deeply involved in their education, volunteering as a mentor and parent at their school. In her "next life," she envisions herself teaching middle school, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of learners.
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