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Keeping Your Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee Going Strong

NCJ Number
241429
Author(s)
Michael R. Jones
Date Published
2013
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This report presents information on criminal justice coordinating committees.
Abstract
A criminal justice coordinating committee (CJCC) is a tool used by local jurisdictions to more effectively manage the limited resources of the local criminal justice system. The CJCC consists of elected and appointed executive-level policymakers who convene to collaboratively address issues facing the local justice system and its constituent agencies. This report examines the benefits of CJCCs that include identifying case processing inefficiencies thereby reducing court backlogs, and aiding probation departments to develop intermediate sanctions for dealing with probation violators, thereby reducing the demand for jail beds. Several examples of high-functioning CJCCs are discussed, along with key characteristics that can keep CJCCs functioning effectively over the long-term. The key characteristics are: 1) appropriate and engaged membership plus effective leadership; 2) capable criminal justice planning staff; and 3) a structured, data-guided, collaborative policy planning process. 6 resources