Council on Criminal Justice

ANNUAL REPORT: Despite the deep polarization afflicting our nation, the Council on Criminal Justice surged forward in 2024 with its mission to use data and evidence to bridge partisan and ideological divides and advance safety and justice for all. Check out our annual report to see highlights of CCJ’s initiatives and wide-ranging impacts: https://lnkd.in/gWP-8iPi

A perspective in USA TODAY from Veterans Justice League founder and CCJ Veterans Justice Commission adviser Manny Menendez on the importance of restoring VA health care for incarcerated veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD and other “invisible injuries” that require specialized treatment: https://lnkd.in/gcBpwhE5 In its final set of recommendations, CCJ's Veterans Justice Commission urged Congress to approve and fund VA-provided medical and mental health care for incarcerated veterans. The absence of VA care in correctional facilities stems from a federal rule change formalized in 1999. The change prohibited the VA from providing health care to veterans under the care of another government agency, terminating a significant benefit and reversing nearly 70 years of VA practice. The change left care of incarcerated veterans in the hands of non-VA providers, who typically lack the specialized training VA clinicians receive. The commission noted that this is of particular concern for service-related conditions involving trauma. PTSD can elevate the risk that veterans will engage in criminal behavior, making targeted VA-provided care especially important. "The Commission believes the 1999 rule change should be reversed and that the VA should resume providing care to incarcerated veterans. This is the best way to honor veterans’ sacrifices to the nation and enhance their health and public safety upon release." https://lnkd.in/gvXJr6u4 David "Mac" MacEwen, Jim D. Seward, Olivia McLarnan, Lindsey Kirchhoff, Carla Bugg, Pelicia E Hall, Mark Inch, Alford McMichael, Vincent Patton, EdD, Jo Sornborger, Giancarlo Cambrelén Santiago, Saydyie DeRosia, BERLYNN FLEURY, Michael Nail, Kathy Sanchez

Great to see all the CCJ folks speaking at yesterday’s congressional briefing on preventing gun violence, including Board of Directors member Daniel F. Wilhelm, Board of Trustees member Cynthia Lum, and Violent Crime Working Group members Alexis Piquero and Daniel Webster. Multiple jurisdictions have used the working group's "Ten Essential Actions" report to guide their violence reduction efforts. It outlines measures group members believe can make the greatest immediate impact on violence. Explore the report: https://lnkd.in/e-tawn2t

A perspective from CCJ Centering Justice leaders Khalil A. Cumberbatch and Marc Levin in Law360 on how deterring dubious prosecutions could enhance public trust in the pardon process - and the justice system more broadly: https://lnkd.in/gAVA9-iv

Veterans Justice Commission Director Brig. Gen. David "Mac" MacEwen discussed the commission's recommendations at The American Legion Washington Conference today. Learn more about the commission's work to cut the number of veterans in jail and prison: https://lnkd.in/ghtYdhsN

"No single tool will stop crime. But if we balance [facial recognition technology] with strong rules, independent oversight and community investments, we can harness its lifesaving potential while protecting our rights." A perspective from CCJ Senior Fellow Thaddeus Johnson and Natasha N. Johnson, EdD for The Washington Post on the promise and potential perils of facial recognition technology in policing.

CCJ congratulates member Alice Marie Johnson on her appointment as the Trump administration's “pardon czar.” Johnson, pardoned by Trump after spending 21 years in federal prison for a drug offense, is the founder and CEO of the Taking Action for Good Foundation, which advocates for clemency, compassionate release, and criminal justice reform.

Meet Women’s Justice Commission member Courtney Bryan, attorney and executive director of the Center for Justice Innovation since 2020. As the center’s leader, Bryan oversees nearly 900 employees who conduct and analyze research and partner with communities, courts, and individuals to advance justice and make communities safer.   Bryan’s career reflects a deep commitment to criminal justice reform, from her days as a public defender to her work as a staff attorney at the NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE DEFENSE OF BATTERED WOMEN and later as a leader at the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Foundation, where she helped launch the Second Chance Opportunities initiative to expand economic support for people with criminal convictions. She also served as the primary coordinator for the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform, which successfully argued for closing the jails on Rikers Island. As a current commissioner on the new Independent Rikers Commission, she is working to ensure the city carries out its plan to close Rikers Island and move incarcerated New Yorkers to smaller, more humane, borough-based jails. 

CCJ’s Veterans Justice Commission partnered with the Second Chance Business Coalition on a model hiring policy outlining best practices for recruiting and employing justice-involved veterans: https://lnkd.in/dH5yNZ8H   Why? Here’s what former Secretary of Defense and Commission Chair Chuck Hagel said: “America’s business and government leaders must do more to honor veterans’ service to this country by reducing barriers that bar them from the jobs they need to succeed.” The commission called on the business community to collaborate with correctional facilities, technology platforms, and community supervision agencies to prioritize veterans in existing efforts to hire those who have been involved in the criminal justice system.   Learn more about the commission, including its other recommendations at: https://lnkd.in/ghtYdhsN David "Mac" MacEwen, Jim D. Seward, Olivia McLarnan, Lindsey Kirchhoff, Carla Bugg, Pelicia E Hall, Mark Inch, Alford McMichael, Vincent Patton, EdD, Jo Sornborger, Giancarlo Cambrelén Santiago, Saydyie DeRosia, BERLYNN FLEURY, Michael Nail, Kathy Sanchez

Meet Women’s Justice Commission member Jillian Snider, policy director at R Street Institute’s Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties team. Snider leads the organization’s research efforts, advancing reform on issues across all stages of the criminal justice system. As a retired NYPD officer, a current candidate for a PhD in criminal justice, and an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College (CUNY) of Criminal Justice, Snider brings a mix of law enforcement experience and criminal justice expertise to her role. In addition, she has testified before Congress on several criminal justice issues and regularly presents at academic and law enforcement conferences. #MeetWJC