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Council on Criminal Justice

@counciloncj.org
323 followers 356 following 513 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

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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 3h
"The drop in homicide over the past four years is one of the most significant public safety developments in decades. Theories and claims abound, and sorting among them is essential if we’re going to sustain the progress." - CCJ President and CEO @abgelb.bsky.social
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 3h
More than half of potential explanations received little support. Of the 48 factors, 26 were rated as having a major or limited impact on the homicide decline by fewer than 25% of the researchers.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 3h
A small group of factors stood out as leading contributors. When major and limited contribution ratings are considered together, six factors drew broad agreement.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 3h
No single factor was viewed as a dominant explanation for the homicide decline.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 3h
CCJ convened four dozen leading crime scholars to assess nearly 50 potential factors behind the decline. Drawing on research, recent trends, and their expertise, participants rated policies, practices, and societal trends as likely major, limited, or negligible/non-contributors.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 05/10/2026
AI promises to make criminal justice safer, fairer and more effective, but it also creates new risks to privacy, liberty and the reliability of decisions that affect people's lives. The controversy over automated license plate readers like Flock Safety's captures both sides. ⤵️
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 02/10/2026
We are pleased to congratulate @jakehorowitz.bsky.social of @pew.org on his election as a CCJ member. Welcome!
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 01/10/2026
In CCJ’s latest UpClose feature, Women's Justice Commission member and @pathfindernetwork.bsky.social Executive Director Leticia Longoria-Navarro discusses building a justice system that holds people accountable while creating opportunities for change, healing, and the prevention of future harm.
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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. ⤵️
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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/... ⤵️
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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? ⤵️
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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.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 16/09/2026
➡️ State corrections: counciloncj.org/assessing-ai...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 16/09/2026
➡️ Public defense: counciloncj.org/assessing-ai...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 16/09/2026
➡️ Police report writing: counciloncj.org/assessing-ai...
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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_...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 19/08/2026
Key findings: ➡️ Women Fear Sexual Assault Twice as Much as Men ➡️ General Worries Associated With Fear of Crime ➡️ Immigrant or Racial Resentment Doesn't Predict Crime Fear
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 19/08/2026
Key findings: ➡️ Americans most worried about financial crimes ➡️ Gaps exist between fear and perceived risk ➡️ People Worry More About Family
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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.”
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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 👇
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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.
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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."
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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
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/07/2026
"Local policies and programs surely matter, but the striking consistency of the decline suggests that macro-level forces are exerting enormous influence as well." - CCJ President & CEO @abgelb.bsky.social
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/07/2026
Key findings:
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/07/2026
Key findings:
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/07/2026
OUT TODAY: A new CCJ report finds that crime rates in 36 large American cities continued to fall in the first half of 2026, with homicides down 18% from the same period in 2025. Explore the full analysis from co-authors Ernesto Lopez and Bobby Boxerman: counciloncj.org/crime-trends...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 07/07/2026
Writing in @usatodayopinion.usatoday.com, CCJ Senior Fellow Amy Solomon argues that while immigration enforcement has a role to play, public safety capacity at every level of government is being redirected away from the targeted strategies most directly tied to preventing crime.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 06/07/2026
CCJ congratulates Doug Bond, president and CEO of the Amity Foundation, on his election as a new member.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 01/07/2026
We are pleased to congratulate National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives president Renee Hall on her election as a CCJ member. Welcome!
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 30/06/2026
What are the costs, benefits, and public safety tradeoffs of women’s incarceration? Join experts Elias Diggins, Victoria Kuhn, and @johnkroman.bsky.social for a discussion grounded in findings from new CCJ research, moderated by CCJ's Stephanie Kennedy. Register: events.zoom.us/ev/AsKgy4CUx...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 25/06/2026
As AI reshapes the justice landscape, how do we ensure its use remains grounded in rigorous research? At a webinar hosted by The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, CCJ Task Force on AI Dir. Jesse Rothman highlighted the important role data & evidence play in the group’s user decision framework.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 23/06/2026
Two new CCJ reports highlight a costly mismatch: States are spending substantially more per person to imprison women. But women generally pose lower safety risks than men—and their incarceration often creates added costs for families and communities. Read more👇
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 22/06/2026
We are pleased to congratulate Tricia Everest, secretary of public safety for the state of Oklahoma, on her election as a CCJ member.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 18/06/2026
In the Council’s latest UpClose feature, CCJ member and executive director of the University of Chicago Health Lab S. Rebecca Neusteter discusses the value and formative nature of her early experiences working in drug courts. Watch the full interview at: counciloncj.org/upclose-with...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 17/06/2026
Immigration enforcement is becoming more deeply intertwined w/ day-to-day policing through expansion of programs like 287(g). How does this impact public safety & community trust? @naureenshah.bsky.social, Ken Cuccinelli, & @artacevedo.bsky.social shared their perspectives in our latest webinar.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 17/06/2026
CCJ is honored to welcome one of our newest members — Jeffrey Glover, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 15/06/2026
When fast-tracked deportations become a form of early release, what does that mean for equal justice, legal accountability, & public safety? A perspective from CCJ Centering Justice’s @marclevin.bsky.social & Khalil Cumberbatch in RealClearPolitics: www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
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Council on Criminal Justice @counciloncj.org · 11/06/2026
Despite falling violent crime rates, a few random or brazen incidents can often make people feel unsafe. CCJ President and CEO @abgelb.bsky.social spoke to @ajc.com about the factors that shape people's perceptions of crime — and what policymakers can do about it: www.ajc.com/news/2026/06...
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