Vision Statements:  

Sauk County, WI: Seeks to ensure a criminal justice system that is fair and just: A system supporting a safe and healthy community for the residents of Sauk County; A system offering accessible opportunities for individuals to change the direction of their lives; A system making evidence based, data-driven choices to ensure that the public’s resources are used responsibly.

Hennepin County, MN: We envision a future where residents are healthy and successful and where our communities are safe and vibrant. We will strive to meet and exceed expectations by engaging people and communities in developing innovative solutions to challenges. We will be a diverse, learning organization. We will partner with others to enhance the quality of life in Hennepin County and the region.

Kalamazoo County, MI: Seeks to be the safest, most just, and restorative community in the nation. 

Mission Statements:

Charleston County, SC: The mission of the CJCC is to assist in making sustainable, data-driven improvements to Charleston County’s criminal justice system (CJS) and thereby improve public safety and community well-being. The CJCC strives to achieve a local CJS that improves public safety, upholds justice and cost-effectively uses taxpayer dollars.

District of Columbia: The mission of the CJCC is to serve as the District of Columbia’s forum for District and federal members to identify cross-cutting local criminal and juvenile justice system issues and achieve coordinated solutions for the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Helpful Tip: Guiding principles are a broad philosophy that encompass personal beliefs and values and guide an organization in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies or type of work. They help create a culture where everyone understands what is important e.g. neutrality, teamwork, accountability, adaptability etc.   

An example of guiding principles for Charleston County, SC:

The CJCC works to advance safety and justice for the citizens of Charleston County, the effective and just treatment of defendants and offenders, the protection and healing of victims, and toward the prevention of crime and reduction of recidivism. Therefore, the CJCC is guided by the following principles:

1. Every interaction with the criminal justice system offers an opportunity to:
1. contribute to the reduction of harm
2. Improve outcomes achieved through collaboration at individual, agency, and system levels.
2. Professional judgement of criminal justice decision makers is enhanced when informed by evidence-based knowledge.
3. The criminal justice system will continually learn and improve effectiveness and efficiency when professionals make decisions based on the collection, analysis, and use of data and information.
4. To advance the administration of justice requires ongoing research and evaluation, technical and adaptive leadership, and innovative uses of criminal justice system resources.