What's a CJCC?
A criminal justice coordinating council (CJCC) is the general term used to describe a body of elected and senior justice system leaders that convene on a regular basis to coordinate systemic responses to justice problems. CJCCs differ widely in the membership and structure. However, generally speaking, a CJCC is a partnership of decision makers who have a stake in the effective administration of justice. Typically the partnership includes representatives from:
- The 3 branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative);
- Multiple levels of government through city, county, and state agencies; and
- Allied stakeholders from various other governmental entities such as education or health and human services, community based organizations, service providers, and citizens.
In addition to the members of the CJCCs, administrative support and planning is provided by a coordinator or director, either from one of the agencies in the CJCC or dedicated and funded by the county for this purpose.
Credit: National Network of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils
For more information on CJCCs, click HERE.
Why are CJCC's important?
CJCCs can produce many benefits, including better understanding of crime and criminal justice problems, greater cooperation among agencies and units of government, clearer objectives and priorities, more effective resoure allocation and better quality criminal justice programs and personnel. Taken together, these results can increase public confidence in and support for criminal justice processes, enhancing system performance and, ultimately, the integrity of the law. Improved planning and coordination help individual justice agencies become more efficient, productive, and effective. Such improvements also help officials of general government evaluate and make decisions about the justice system and its cost and performance. Many local governments also are finding that comprehensive systemwide planning (interagency and cross-jurisdictional) helps to streamline the entire local system of justice, eliminating duplication, filling service gaps, and generally improving the quality of service while controlling costs.
Excerpt from Robert Cushman’s 2002 Guidelines for Developing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, published by the National Institute of Corrections.
Winona County CJCC is a member of the National Network of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils. The National Network of Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (NNCJCC) is a formal network of staff and leadership of local CJCCs that provides a forum for peer-to-peer learning among Network members and information sharing nationally to build capacity for CJCCs around the country. For more information about the NNCJCC, click the button below.