Sign in

Council on Criminal Justice

@counciloncj.org
315 followers 356 following 500 posts

Nonpartisan think tank and invitational membership organization that advances understanding of the criminal justice policy choices facing the nation and builds consensus for solutions that enhance safety and justice for all. counciloncj.org

PostsRepliesMedia
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 37m
How can responses to youth crime strike the delicate balance between protecting public safety and holding young people accountable while avoiding approaches that research has shown to be ineffective? ➡️ Watch yesterday’s webinar: counciloncj.org/event-record...
counciloncj.org
Event Recording: Youth Crime: Falling Numbers, Rising Alarm - Council on Criminal Justice
The Council on Criminal Justice Centering Justice initiative and a panel of experts discussed youth crime trends, what is known about effective approaches, and what communities should consider as they...
100
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 29/09/2026
🚨 There's still time to register! Join us today at 12:00 ET for a discussion on youth crime trends, what is known about effective approaches, and what communities should consider as they confront today’s challenges. ➡️ Register here: events.zoom.us/ev/AqK3JAuN_...
000
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 28/09/2026
Last week, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced the launch of the First Step Act Department to focus solely on the successful implementation of the law. ⤵️ spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/cr...
spectrumlocalnews.com
Bureau of Prisons launches First Step Act office
Nearly eight years after the passage of the First Step Act, the Bureau of Prisons is launching a new department focused on implementing the law
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 25/09/2026
Trust in the criminal justice system is near its lowest point since Gallup began measuring it in 1993, ranking among the least trusted institutions in its survey. And that trust increasingly depends not only on how the system behaves, but on which party is in charge. ⤵️
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 24/09/2026
This week, DOJ released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the National Center for Veterans Justice, a $4 million hub to improve outcomes for veterans in the criminal justice system This closely tracks recommendations from the CCJ Veterans Justice Commission: vjc.counciloncj.org/vjc-reports/... ⤵️
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/09/2026
Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism is holding a hearing on Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate readers. At the center of this issue: How can criminal justice agencies balance public safety and civil liberties when adopting AI? ⤵️
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 22/09/2026
📅 One week left to register! Join us next Tuesday, 9/29 from 12-1 ET for a discussion on youth crime trends, what is known about effective approaches, and what communities should consider as they confront today’s challenges. ➡️ Register here: events.zoom.us/ev/AqK3JAuN_...
022
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 21/09/2026
San Diego County is considering AI to help probation officers write sentencing reports. CCJ Sr. Fellow Jonathan Wroblewski tells @sandiegouniontribune.com that agencies must proceed with caution, especially when considering tools that may affect a person's rights or freedom:
sandiegouniontribune.com
This document helps courts decide who goes to prison. AI may soon help write it in San Diego.
A plan to build an AI model to assist in the creation of pre-sentencing reports has prompted calls for oversight from the Board of Supervisors.
112
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 17/09/2026
How can leaders better address the gap between constitutional promises and daily reality? CCJ's @marclevin.bsky.social and Khalil Cumberbatch argue in RealClearPolitics that closing this gap is most urgent in criminal justice, where government power is most concentrated.
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 16/09/2026
OUT TODAY: The CCJ Task Force on Artificial Intelligence released three case studies illustrating how criminal justice agencies and communities can evaluate, implement, and oversee different AI tools in policing, public defense, and corrections: counciloncj.org/critical-cas...
counciloncj.org
Critical Case Studies: Three Assessments of AI in Action - Council on Criminal Justice
The Task Force on AI developed three case studies demonstrating how its user decision framework applies to different AI tools and hypothetical use cases, with a focus on substantive decision-making co...
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 15/09/2026
Youth crime has fallen sharply in recent decades, yet "teen takeover" incidents raise legitimate concern. How can leaders ensure safety and accountability while avoiding ineffective approaches? 📅 Register now for our next webinar on 9/29 at 12pm ET: events.zoom.us/ev/AqK3JAuN_...
133
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 14/09/2026
In the Council’s latest UpClose feature, CCJ member and Chief Advocacy Officer at Dream.Org @janosmarton.bsky.social discusses the importance of ensuring that families and communities are not left out of the conversation when discussing ways to improve the criminal justice system.
120
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 10/09/2026
How can policymakers and law enforcement balance new tech with privacy and civil liberties? At CCJ's latest webinar, Assistant Chief of the Miami Police Dept. Armando Aguilar said that with any new tool or technology, a clear distinction must be made between appropriate and inappropriate uses.
131
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 09/09/2026
How can we better understand perceptions of crime, notably when trends don't always match how people feel? Governing covers CCJ's recent report examining which crimes Americans fear most, their perceived risk of victimization, and what drives those fears: www.governing.com/key-findings...
governing.com
The Crimes That Weigh on Americans' Minds
Identity theft, online theft and home burglary top the list.
100
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 08/09/2026
Leaders across the political spectrum have claimed credit for the national decline in crime. But how much of that credit is earned, and how much remains unknown? @allsidesnow.bsky.social grounds these questions in evidence using CCJ's latest crime trends reports. www.allsides.com/blog/insight...
allsides.com
The Insight: Is Violent Crime Down in the US?
Crime is falling in the US, and politicians are rushing to claim credit. But who deserves it? And is it truly commendable, or has a bad situation just become… less bad?
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 04/09/2026
Women on parole face steeper challenges than men on parole—more frequent moves, worse health, and higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders. @stateline.org covers CCJ's report on health, housing, and household circumstances among women on parole:
131
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 03/09/2026
How can policymakers and law enforcement balance new tech with privacy and civil liberties? At CCJ's latest webinar, Jumana Musa said what's needed is "the step before the step"—an audit trail on the tech's role, how it's trained, & whether police have real transparency into it.
141
Reposted by Council on Criminal Justice
CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance @cunyislg.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
.@counciloncj.org released an analysis of mid-year crime rates from 36 of the largest cities in the USA and found that crime continues to fall across the country. Learn more: counciloncj.org/crime-trends...
counciloncj.org
Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2026 Update - Council on Criminal Justice
Examining changes in 13 offenses across a sample of 36 large U.S. cities, CCJ's mid-year analysis shows crime has continued to fall in the first half of 2026, with homicide likely dropping to another…
063
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 31/08/2026
How can policymakers and law enforcement balance the public safety potential of new tech while protecting privacy and civil liberties? At CCJ's latest webinar, Chief Jason Potts said it's about having "a framework of strong governance, accountability, transparency & stewardship."
122
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 27/08/2026
How well do we support struggling veterans returning home? Veterans Justice Commission Director David MacEwen argues in @latimes.com that when a veteran enters the justice system, we should ask not just what they did wrong, but whether we did enough. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
latimes.com
Contributor: Support service members, long before they become veterans at risk of incarceration
There is a troubling connection between military separation practices, unmet needs and veterans’ subsequent involvement in the justice system.
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 26/08/2026
This month, the American Legislative Exchange Council adopted two model policies on improving outcomes for pregnant & postpartum women in the justice system: ➡️ Women’s Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE) Act ➡️ Reporting on Incarceration Pregnancy and Postpartum Outcomes Act ⤵️
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 26/08/2026
How can policymakers and law enforcement agencies balance the public safety potential of new technologies while protecting privacy and civil liberties? Watch yesterday’s webinar, moderated by CCJ’s Khalil Cumberbatch and @marclevin.bsky.social: counciloncj.org/event-record...
counciloncj.org
Event Recording: Policing in the Digital Age: Balancing Public Safety and Privacy - Council on Criminal Justice
The Council on Criminal Justice's Centering Justice initiative and a panel of experts discussed the promise and risks of emerging policing technologies, the safeguards needed to protect constitutional...
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 25/08/2026
After prison, we often measure successful reentry with one question: Did they reoffend? But that misses a lot. A CCJ analysis finds women on parole are more likely than men to face housing instability, poor health, and serious mental health challenges. counciloncj.org/health-housi...
counciloncj.org
Health, Housing, and Household Circumstances Among Women on Parole - Council on Criminal Justice
Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this brief finds that women on parole are more likely to face housing instability, health challenges, and mental health and drug use disorde...
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 25/08/2026
🚨 There's still time to register! Join us today at 12:00 ET for a discussion on the promise and risks of emerging policing technologies, the safeguards needed to protect constitutional rights, and how innovation can be paired with oversight and accountability. Sign up now ⤵️
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 24/08/2026
Violent crime continues to fall nationwide, but deaths from roadway violence have not shown comparable drops. For @postopinions.bsky.social, CCJ Sr. Fellow Thaddeus Johnson and Natasha Johnson call for better data and evaluation of the causes and preventative measures.
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | How road rage turns traffic into tragedy in seconds
As murders decline, violent road rage incidents grow across the country.
011
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 21/08/2026
⏰ Less than 1️⃣ week left to register! Join us next Tuesday, 8/25 from 12-1 ET for a discussion on the promise and risks of emerging policing technologies, the safeguards needed to protect constitutional rights, and how innovation can be paired with oversight and accountability. Register below. ⬇️
022
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 20/08/2026
As AI reshapes the justice landscape, how do we ensure its use remains grounded in rigorous research? Join CCJ, the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy and the National Policing Institute Aug. 27 at 12pm ET for a webinar examining the future of AI through the lens of evidence-based crime policy.
cebcp.org
AI in the Justice System: An Evidence-Based Frontier - The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP)
AI in the Justice System: An Evidence-Based Frontier As artificial intelligence reshapes the justice landscape, how do we ensure its use remains grounded in rigorous research? The Center for Evidence-...
112
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 20/08/2026
Hector Matascastillo's story inspired CCJ's Veterans Justice Act, an ALEC model policy adopted in Nebraska and pending in several other states. It gives veterans like Hector charged with a probation-eligible offense a structured pathway to treatment instead of prison.
122
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 19/08/2026
How can we better understand public perceptions of crime, especially when trends don't always match how people feel? A new CCJ survey examines which crimes Americans fear most, their perceived risk of victimization, and what drives those fears: counciloncj.org/fear-of-crim...
counciloncj.org
Fear of Crime in the U.S. - Council on Criminal Justice
Using original survey data, this report examines which specific crimes Americans fear most, how they perceive their risk of victimization, and the factors that help explain those fears.
244
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 18/08/2026
The federal prison population is down nearly a third from its peak. As a result, the BOP now plans to close six federal facilities. CCJ's @marclevin.bsky.social & Khalil Cumberbatch argue in RealClear Politics that this could cut costs, strengthen staffing & programming, and make communities safer:
realclearpolitics.com
Closing Federal Prisons: A Winning Hand | RealClearPolitics
For decades, the War on Drugs, mandatory minimum sentences, and other dynamics kept our nation’s federal prisons packed to the rafters, with many facilities...
041
Reposted by Council on Criminal Justice
The Progress Network @progressntwrk.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
🧐Do we know why? 🤷‍♀️Nope. “The homicide drop is historic and crystal clear. But right now, what’s driving it is about as clear as a glass of milk,” said @abgelb.bsky.social , president and CEO of the @counciloncj.org . apnews.com/article/homi...
apnews.com
Homicides dropped 18.1% in 2025 to the lowest rate since 1956, FBI says
The homicide rate in the United States dropped to the lowest it’s been in 75 years. That's according to a new FBI report on 2025 crime statistics, which also shows overall violent crime dropped 9.3% l...
021
Reposted by Council on Criminal Justice
John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
What's behind the decline in crime? "The consistency across the map should make us cautious about handing credit to any one leader, party, policy, or program before the evidence catches up,” says Adam Gelb of the @counciloncj.org. www.wsav.com/news/politic...
Screenshot of an August 2026 Associated Press article about a recent decline in violent crime in the United States.
042
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 17/08/2026
Changes in criminal justice policy, advances in technology, and broad shifts in society and culture are all contributing to the crime decline. “Crime is falling across too many different kinds of cities to credit any one policy, party or program," @abgelb.bsky.social told @washingtonpost.com.
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 14/08/2026
It's official: The FBI crime data for 2025 shows a murder rate of 4.1 per 100k residents, an historic low. CCJ's recent mid-year report shows homicide continues to decline this year. That means the national homicide rate is on track for another historic low in 2026.
“This is one of the most significant public safety developments in decades. Homicide has now fallen by more than half since 2022 and has reached a new historic low. That means lives saved, families spared trauma, and communities made safer—and it deserves to be celebrated,” said CCJ President and CEO Adam Gelb. “But the reasons for the decline are much less clear than the decline itself. There will be plenty of competition to claim credit, but the evidence isn’t ready to award a trophy. We need to understand what’s working, where, for whom, and under what conditions. Progress we don’t understand is progress we risk squandering.”
142
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 14/08/2026
Here's the FBI's new 2025 crime trends report. It shows a murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate of 4.1 per 100k. cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/resou...
020
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 13/08/2026
If you could change one thing about the criminal justice system today that could reshape the next 250 years, what would it be? For The Just Trust's Justice & The Next 250 initiative, CCJ’s Khalil Cumberbatch envisions a system that fully embraces the power of second chances.
011
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 12/08/2026
How can policymakers and law enforcement agencies balance the public safety potential of new technologies while ensuring the protection of privacy and civil liberties? 📆 Register now for CCJ’s next webinar on 8/25 at 12pm ET: events.zoom.us/ev/Ap36yA99J...
123
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 11/08/2026
Today marks one year since President Trump announced deploying National Guard troops in Washington, DC. What's happened with crime since? CCJ published an updated fact sheet compiling DC crime statistics for eight crime types from 2018 through June 2026: counciloncj.org/crime-in-was...
counciloncj.org
Crime in Washington, DC: What You Need to Know - Council on Criminal Justice
On the one-year anniversary of President Trump deploying National Guard troops to Washington, DC, this brief examines trends for eight different crime types in the nation's capital going back to 2018.
111
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 10/08/2026
"Public safety is too important to reduce to partisan platitudes." CCJ President & CEO @abgelb.bsky.social spoke w/ @joycewhitevance.bsky.social on CCJ's Mid-Year 2026 Crime Trends report & the need for measured analysis of what's driving recent crime drops: joycevance.substack.com/p/five-quest...
121
Reposted by Council on Criminal Justice
Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
There is new crime data available. The news is generally good. Who gets to take credit for it? Donald Trump? Tonight’s interview with expert @adamgelb.bsky.social , who leads a bipartisan think tank on criminal justice reform, has the answers. joycevance.substack.com/p/five-quest...
joycevance.substack.com
Five Questions with Adam Gelb, President of the Council on Criminal Justice
About those new crime statistics...
417349
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 07/08/2026
CCJ's Amy Solomon spoke with @washingtonpost.com about DOJ's new $3B grant program—one of its largest ever—for local agencies that cooperate on immigration enforcement, saying that while tying funds to policy isn't new, pushing police into immigration risks reshaping their mission.
121
Reposted by Council on Criminal Justice
CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance @cunyislg.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Between 2021 and 2024, incarceration rates, booking rates, & average length of stay in local jails increased far higher for women than they did for men. Our The Hidden Crisis of Women in Jails brief examines women’s jail incarceration rates post-pandemic: buff.ly/3bRdO7E
074
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 06/08/2026
What is one thing people can do today to help build a better justice system for the next 250 years? For The Just Trust's Justice & The Next 250 initiative, CCJ Chief Policy Counsel @marclevin.bsky.social offers a starting point: Learn one fact about how justice works in your community.
022
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 05/08/2026
“Progress that is not understood can be easily lost.” CCJ President & CEO @abgelb.bsky.social spoke with Bill O'Reilly on No Spin News to discuss findings from the Council's latest crime trends report and what we know and don’t know about the forces driving the recent drops in crime.
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 04/08/2026
In today's hearing on Blanche's AG nomination, Senator Chuck Grassley cited CCJ's mid-year crime trends report and credited DOJ leadership for the broad declines in crime. While increased enforcement may play a role, there's no single or easy explanation for the drop. Read more 👇
131
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 03/08/2026
With the federal prison population down by nearly a third over the past decade and violent crime falling near historic lows, how can closing prisons help contribute to greater public safety? A perspective from CCJ Senior Fellow Jonathan Wroblewski: sentencing.substack.com/p/the-prison...
sentencing.substack.com
The Prisons We No Longer Need
Thirteen years after setting out to shrink the federal prison population, that population is much smaller, the country is much safer, and BOP is finally closing prisons
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 30/07/2026
On July 15th, CCJ Veterans Justice Commission Director David MacEwen testified at a @democrats-veterans.house.gov roundtable on how discharge status affects veterans' access to VA benefits—and how the @deptofwar.bsky.social and @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social can improve policies to better support them.
121
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 29/07/2026
What should individual and system accountability look like 250 years from now? For The Just Trust's Justice & The Next 250 initiative, Khalil Cumberbatch, CCJ’s director of engagement and partnerships, shares his vision of accountability that extends beyond punishment.
A graphic with a quote from Khalil Cumberbatch with the following text: "Accountability 250 years from now should mean more than punishment. It should mean holding individuals responsible for their actions while holding our institutions equally responsible for fairness, dignity, and opportunities for redemption. Real accountability doesn't end with a sentence. It continues through repairing harm, rebuilding trust, and creating safer communities for everyone."
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 28/07/2026
CCJ welcomes Jonathan Wroblewski as a senior fellow! He brings a distinguished career in law and public service, including time as both a federal prosecutor and local public defender, to help the Council carry forward the work of our Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.
A graphic with Jonathan Wroblewski's headshot welcoming him to CCJ
021
Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 27/07/2026
CCJ Senior Fellow Thaddeus Johnson spoke with @cnn.com about the growing use—and documented misuse—of automated license-plate reader systems, stating that while ALPRs can strengthen certain investigations, they're no shortcut to safer communities. Read more: www.cnn.com/2026/07/26/u...
cnn.com
Inside the growing police use and misuse of Flock’s license-plate reader cameras | CNN
The arrests of two Milwaukee Police officers have put the spotlight on the surveillance technology that can be misused and abused.
021