Aimee Wickman

The CJCC Essential Elements document is a companion publication to the National Standards for Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils. The essential elements consist of ten key attributes associated with high performing criminal justice coordinating councils (CJCCs). The ten essential elements are: 1) systemic focus, 2) participation, 3) leadership, 4) consensus building, 5) organized meetings, 6) committees and workgroups, 7) strategic planning, 8) data and research, 9) community engagement, and 10) director and staff. Each essential element is described in the publication, and a set of key factors is also presented. The key factors are items that indicate the presence of the essential element, and they are drawn from the national standards of CJCCs (and the corresponding guiding principles of CJCCs).

The National Standards for Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils is a comprehensive framework for the formation and ongoing management of criminal justice coordinating councils (CJCCs). 

The standards cover thirteen elements of CJCCs: 

1) vision and mission
2) bylaws
3) membership
4) officers
5) committee
6) standing committees and workgroups
7) meetings
8) decision-making
9) strategic planning
10) data and research
11) community engagement and outreach 
12) administration
13) support staff

Criminal justice coordinating councils (CJCCs) emerged in the 1970s and 80s as a means for systemic collaboration to improve the justice system. To date, however, there has been little research on these entities. To address this knowledge gap, Justice Management Institute surveyed CJCC members nationwide to understand what value these professionals experience through their CJCC membership and the benefits that CJCCs bring to their jurisdictions. This publication, developed with funding from the National Institute of Corrections, presents findings from that survey.