Criminal justice system collaboration seeks to overcome the limitations of traditional, non-systemic approaches to criminal justice problem solving and solution development by bringing together stakeholders to share information, work toward the development of common goals, and jointly create policies to support those goals. Stakeholders are defined as those who influence and have an investment in the justice system’s outcomes.
Collaboration: A Training Curriculum to Enhance the Effectiveness of Criminal Justice Teams
“Who is at the table” is likely the most important component of successful collaboration. “Stakeholders” are those who have a vested interest in justice system processes and outcomes. There are many different ways to categorize stakeholders and identify them by completing a stakeholder analysis. It is important not only to have the right organizations at the table, but also the right representatives from those organizations. Additionally, it is important to include representatives from all involved jurisdictions within the geographical areas.
Being Inclusive and Diverse
In his book, The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many are Smarter than the Few, James Surowieke (2004) explains that large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant they are. Larger groups are better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, and even predicting the future. While there is much debate among his critics, there is consensus that adding independent, diverse opinions to the discussion has a number of benefits. Engaging a wider group of participants, not only brings more ideas and varied perspectives to the table, but it also increases buy-in and support for the group's efforts. Diversity and inclusion are opportunities to create connections among diverse groups who might not otherwise interact and they foster an in increases awareness about system issues and responses.
Many CJCCs have recognized the need to engage a broader group of stakeholders, beyond the traditional justice system actors, to address justice system problems. Many choose to include civil rights leaders, the League of Women Voters, and faith leaders, just to name a few, to participate on the CJCC. Many, also, include those affected by the criminal justice system, e.g. family members of justice involved/returning citizens, in CJCC discussions. Members from the broader community can provide valuable input and help ensure that strategies are on target and ultimately successful.
The most effective Councils build a culture of trust, candor, and respect; none of which is possible without a culture of inclusion. CJCC’s that cultivate an inclusive culture ensure that all members are encouraged to bring their perspectives, identity, and life experience to their service. An inclusive CJCC culture welcomes and celebrates differences and ensures that all members are equally engaged and invested, sharing power, and responsibility to achieve the organization’s mission and the council’s work.
CJCC’s play a critical role in helping organizations understand the context in which they work and how best to prioritize resources and strategies based on that reality. An awareness of how systemic inequities have affected our society, and particularly the criminal justice system, enables the CJCC to avoid blind spots that can lead to flawed strategies. It can create powerful opportunities to deepen the council’s effectiveness, relevance, and advancement of the public good.
The insight gained from people who have experienced the system and services is invaluable. The process to include non-traditional partners at the table should be thoughtful and intentional to ensure that both traditional and non-justice partners are comfortable. It is imperative that your transition to include new stakeholders be successful the first time, so that it is a positive experience for everyone.
Examples of non-justice partners include but are not limited to:
Justice involved individuals and their family members
Victim Advocacy representatives
Also you can include representatives from:
Business community
Faith community
Health department
Hospitals
Behavioral and Mental Health Providers
NAACP Chapters
Tips for including non-justice partners in your CJCC:
Ensure transparency and support among existing council members if this is a new addition
Create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere so non-traditional partners feel they have a voice at the table
Formalize voting rights to show equity and support
Geographic Scope
When creating a CJCC, it is important to consider geographic scope. Justice system decision making is enhanced when it encompasses a representation of the complete “system” it represents. CJCCs benefit from shared geographic boundaries in the local justice system. Normally, this means a geographic area with the same boundaries as a county. Municipalities usually invest heavily in police services, and counties are more involved in court and correctional services. Thus, if a CJCC’s coverage extends to the county boundaries, it usually deals with a complete, or nearly complete, local justice system. Even in jurisdictions with many state-administered criminal justice activities, a countywide arrangement usually pulls together most locally administered functions.
This principle leads to related notions, for example, that joint city/county CJCCs are generally preferable to either single-city or county-only CJCCs. Geography is less important than the range of justice functions falling within the jurisdiction of the CJCC.
Toledo/Lucas County CJCC Example
The Toledo/Lucas County CJCC is a special purpose unit of local government, formed under Chapters 167 and 181 of the Ohio Revised Code and by resolution of the City of Toledo and Lucas County. The CJCC is made up of a 13·member board comprised of criminal justice professionals, elected officials, and citizen representatives and an operational staff that focus on the board’s mission which is to: promote and foster cooperation, coordination, and cost-savings between governmental units and agencies, and to improve the criminal justice system through planning, analysis, technical assistance, training information management and other services requested by the governmental units represented. The Toledo/Lucas County CJCC also serves as a regional planning unit on behalf of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), the State Administering Agency in Ohio. They distribute over $1 million per year of Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, Violence Against Women Act, and Juvenile Justice funding to support local criminal justice programming on behalf of OCJS.
Geographic Scope:
Helpful Hint
If the proposed CJCC will represent several localities that may include numerous law enforcement agencies, it will be necessary to determine how to best ensure representation with the need to keep the CJCC membership to a manageable and functional size. It may be preferable to select one representative from certain categories to maintain a manageable size for a CJCC. For example, If the proposed CJCC will represent localities that may include numerous law enforcement agencies, it will be necessary to determine how to best ensure representation to align with the need to keep the CJCC membership to a manageable and functional size.
Complete a Stakeholder Analysis
A stakeholder analysis should be completed to ensure representation of all justice system stakeholders on the council. Complete representation of the justice system’s stakeholders will allow for the full understanding of the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is vital that the council includes all key stakeholders as early in the process as possible. In other words, to implement meaningful changes, you must have all those who might be involved in the potential changes your council will identify at the table from the outset. (1d: Conducting a Stakeholder Analysis | Evidence-Based Decision Making).
The following steps outline the process for conducting a stakeholder analysis:
Brainstorm a list of all agencies, organizations, and individuals that have a “stake” in criminal justice decision making in your jurisdiction.
Organize the list in a logical fashion (e.g., group together those with influence over particular decisions, such as arrest, pretrial, community interventions, etc.).
Review the list. Identify those stakeholders already on the council and those who are missing.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of including the individuals or agencies on the list. What can they add to the team? What are the possible consequences if they are not involved?
For each identified stakeholder, determine a possible representative.
The following are generic terms for the key decision points used in the Evidence-Based Decision Making process. You can also use these to map your system:
Arrest decisions (cite, detain, divert, treat, release)
Pretrial status decisions (release on recognizance, release on unsecured or secured bond, release with supervision conditions, detain, respond to noncompliance, reassess supervision conditions)
Diversion and deferred prosecution decisions
Charging decisions (charge, dismiss)
Plea decisions (plea terms)
Sentencing decisions (sentence type, length, terms and conditions)
Local and state institutional intervention decisions (security level, housing placement,behavior change interventions)
Local and state institutional/parole release decisions (timing of release, conditions of release)
Local and state reentry planning decisions
Probation and parole intervention decisions (supervision level, supervision conditions,behavior change interventions)
Community behavior change (treatment) interventions
Noncompliance response decisions (level of response, accountability and behavior change responses)
Jail and prison (or local and state) discharge from criminal justice system decisions (timing of discharge)
Key Decision Makers And Stakeholder Groups At The Local Level
(Center for Effective Public Policy & Carey Group, 2017)
Law enforcement officials
Pretrial executives
Victim advocates
Prosecutors
Defense attorneys
Jail administrators
Court administrators
Judges
Probation/parole/community corrections officials
City/county managers/commissioners
Community representatives (e.g., civic leaders, members of faith-based organizations, service providers, justice-involved individuals)
Behavioral health and human service representatives
Examples: The Charleston CJCC involves 12 community representatives: “Community representatives express the varied justice-related needs and concerns of Charleston County residents, gather and share community input, and provide voice and feedback from the community into the CJCC decision-making process.”
“The CJCC belongs to all residents of Charleston County. Get involved. We want to hear your input and concerns. All input is important as we move forward and work to improve our local criminal justice system,” explained Mount Pleasant Police Department Deputy Chief Stan Gragg, CJCC Chairman." (Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council 2019)
The CJCC encourages all community members to apply (via press releases, social media and direct outreach) and does not require previous experience with the criminal justice system. Community representatives include the:
Local civil rights community
Local Hispanic community
Local graduate program community in related fields of study
Local community-at-large
One designated liaison from any other entity deemed appropriate by the Executive
Local faith community
Local nonprofit community
Local healthcare community
Local business community
Local defense bar
Local crime survivor community
Previously incarcerated community (24 hours or more in the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center)
An example of a community representative application is found here.
Helpful Hint
Victims’ advocates, justice involved citizens and key community partners and non-profits are often missing from the table. A great way to identify who is not represented, is to map your system or start by listing your key decision points, people and agencies impacted and involved at each point. Include decision map here
Helpful Hint
Sometimes, concern about respecting the doctrine of the separation of powers leads a key justice leader, often a judge, to express discomfort at being asked to serve on a CJCC. However, judges serve on many CJCCs and, in fact, chair them in some communities. Oftentimes judges can play a very meaningful role in a CJCC. Judges – in large part, because of the belief by others in their authority, judgment, and neutrality – cannot only bring people together from various organizations, they can help to create an atmosphere of trust[AB1] [i]. More often than not, judges or a County Chief Judge can serve as the overall checks and balance for the CJCC. Chief Judges are often seen as the leader in a criminal justice system, and when engaged in a CJCC they can keep CJCC members from serving their own interests versus the greater group.
Helpful Hint
CJCCs also benefit from involving community leaders who are not justice system experts and have no specific interest in any part of the justice system. Community representatives can establish a sense of altruism in the CJCC by insisting, “we expect you to get along together. We expect you to solve these problems.” They may also ask discerning questions.
Additional Tips for Success:
Invariably, you will overlook a potential partner along the way. Remain flexible and bring others onto the council as you move forward and as you deem it appropriate.
If the CJCC is already sufficient in size, consider adding others the council feels strongly about such as citizens, community members, and other non-criminal justice representatives to subcommittees and working groups. This has the advantage of including others and gaining their input in structured ways, while not expanding the council to an unworkably large number.
Typically, the CJCC will develop a lengthy list of possible members through this analysis. The key is to select members carefully to ensure that the team is not overly large or unworkable. Remember to consider two key factors when selecting council members: (1) their position and influence with their peers and the larger community; and (2) their openness to ideas and to new ways of looking at old problems. (1d: Conducting a Stakeholder Analysis | Evidence-Based Decision Making)