As we look toward 2026, one lesson from our decades of work in the criminal justice system is clear: policy change alone is not enough.
Across the country, leaders, advocates, and funders have invested in efforts to improve public safety and justice system outcomes. Too often, however, reforms fall short of their intended impact—not because the goals were wrong, but because justice systems are complex, interdependent, and require sustained, coordinated effort to change.
At the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI), we help reform efforts succeed by providing the systemwide context, strategy, and implementation support needed to turn single-issue initiatives into lasting change.
This means grounding efforts in evidence; strategically navigating the passage of policy; aligning partners across organizations and sectors; and supporting the long, often invisible work of implementation that turns policy into enduring practice.
What We’re Focused on in 2026
- Supporting systemwide improvement, not siloed change: Criminal justice outcomes are shaped by interconnected decisions across policing, courts, corrections, behavioral health, housing, and community services. In 2026, CJI will continue helping partners identify root causes, anticipate downstream impacts, and design and implement strategies that work across the entire system.
- Strengthening sustainability: Leadership turnover, political shifts, and short funding cycles threaten sustainability. CJI helps partners build durable processes, shared data frameworks, and cross-agency alignment so progress does not depend on any one champion or moment.
- Helping funders achieve better outcomes: Philanthropy plays a critical role in improving the justice system, but funding impact requires more than supporting individual programs. In 2026, we will expand our work supporting funders and their grantees with data and research that drive reform efforts, with narrative development that reaches diverse audiences and with implementation and data support to ensure long-term accountability.
Why This Moment Matters
Building a resilient, evidence-driven field will require patience, coordination, and partners willing to focus on system change, not headlines.
CJI exists to be that partner. For more than 25 years, we have developed and supported durable justice system change through evidence, data, and implementation expertise.
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to helping those closest to the work—policymakers, impacted communities and individuals, leaders and practitioners, advocates, and funders—achieve sustainable results that strengthen communities and public safety.
Sincerely,
The CJI Leadership Team
Colby Dawley – Director of Operations
Len Engel – Director of Policy & Campaigns
Valerie Meade – Deputy Director, Assessment and Implementation
Maura McNamara –Deputy Director, Policy
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Resources
Visit our publications page to explore research supporting criminal justice policy and implementation nationwide
Partner With Us
Are you driving justice system change? Reach out to start the conversation about how evidence-informed approaches can help you: cjiconnect@cjinstitute.org