A message from CJI Executive Director Christine Cole on racial justice

"The killings of Black and brown Americans and the structural racism in our society that has allowed them to happen, often with total impunity, demand more than words. They demand real, meaningful change."

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Recent Publications

1/26/2021

Youth Diversion

What is youth diversion? Diversion directs young people away from formal processing in the juvenile justice system, while still holding them accountable for their actions. Learn more about youth diversion in CJI’s new one-pager.

10/1/2020

A framework for public safety to prepare for the 2020 election

              Click here for the one-page framework overview. See below for additional resources. Regardless of political affiliation, all public safety leaders should commit to supporting the democratic processes and institutions that support a free and fair election. It is imperative that public safety officials make plans in advance to…

City of Milwaukee Settlement Agreement Second Annual Report

CJI is currently working with the City of Milwaukee towards compliance with a court ordered settlement agreement regarding Milwaukee’s police practices. Key elements of that agreement include data collection efforts and improved accountability mechanisms. Read the second annual report here. Find all of CJI’s Milwaukee reports here.

6/17/2020

Justice Reinvestment: a Data-driven Approach to Enhance Public Safety

With support from data and policy experts, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) helps states identify opportunities to improve criminal justice outcomes, implement more cost-effective solutions, and invest in strategies that reduce recidivism and hold individuals accountable.

4/1/2020

Justice Reinvestment: Phase II; Implementing Statewide Reforms

This report report offers a brief overview of the implementation phase of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and the positive results in states CJI has partnered with, including Louisiana, Alaska, Maryland, Oklahoma, Utah, and Mississippi. 

11/19/2019

Justice Reinvestment: Prioritizing Prison Resources Where They Matter Most

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) is a partnership with state leaders from all three branches of government committed to using their criminal justice data to examine and improve their systems by implementing proven, innovative, and comprehensive approaches to reduce crime, cut recidivism rates, and shift resources toward more effective public safety strategies. A central goal…

10/29/2019

JRI: Helping Law Enforcement Keep Communities Safe

This joint report from the Crime and Justice Institute and the Council of State Governments summarizes how eight states — Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania — have used JRI to help address law enforcement challenges. 

10/24/2019

1 October After-Action Review

The 1 October After-Action Review, released in July 2019, gives an in-depth look at law enforcement response to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. CJI was honored to work with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) on this exhaustive review of the 1 October mass-casualty shooting. The 93 recommendations outlined in this…

News

January 28, 2021

COVID-19 Commission Closes with Expansive Recommendations to Reset the Criminal Justice System

The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice, established in July 2020 by the Council on Criminal Justice, recently published its final report, Experience to Action: Reshaping Criminal Justice After COVID-19, setting a priority agenda for a post-pandemic criminal justice system. The commission, chaired by Hon. Alberto Gonzales, Former U.S. Attorney General in the George…

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