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What's Driving the Homicide Decline?
After surging in 2020, homicide rates are now at historic lows. During a two-day summit, four dozen leading crime scholars assessed nearly 50 possible explanations. Here's what they found.
Key Findings
Assessing AI for Criminal Justice
The Task Force on AI developed three case studies illustrating how criminal justice agencies and communities can apply its User Decision Framework to evaluate, implement, and oversee AI tools.
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Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2026 Update
Crime in large American cities continued to fall in the first half of 2026. With homicides down 18% from the same period in 2025, the national homicide rate is on track for another historic low.
Read the Report
The Rising Cost of Women in the Justice System
The number of women under correctional control is projected to rise to 1.1 million by 2035, with annual costs increasing by roughly $8 billion. But reducing time served could save states millions with minimal public safety impact.
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Policing: By the Numbers
This collection brings together more than two dozen statistical trends on U.S. law enforcement, in some cases stretching back 45 years, examining issues from staffing and budget to police encounters and public perceptions.
Read the Report
How to Help Justice-Involved Veterans
Testifying at a bipartisan Senate hearing, CCJ's Veterans Justice Commission Director outlined recommendations to help prevent veterans from falling into the justice system and better support those who do.
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A Shared Vision for the Future of Criminal Justice Policy
In a time of great division, CCJ is working to find common ground in pursuit of safety and justice for all. That’s why we helped convene leading national organizations from across the political spectrum to co-create a set of bipartisan principles for criminal justice policy.
Learn More
What's Driving the Homicide Decline?
After surging in 2020, homicide rates are now at historic lows. During a two-day summit, four dozen leading crime scholars assessed nearly 50 possible explanations. Here's what they found.
Key Findings
Assessing AI for Criminal Justice
The Task Force on AI developed three case studies illustrating how criminal justice agencies and communities can apply its User Decision Framework to evaluate, implement, and oversee AI tools.
Learn More
Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2026 Update
Crime in large American cities continued to fall in the first half of 2026. With homicides down 18% from the same period in 2025, the national homicide rate is on track for another historic low.
Read the report
The Rising Cost of Women in the Justice System
The number of women under correctional control is projected to rise to 1.1 million by 2035, with annual costs increasing by roughly $8 billion. But reducing time served could save states millions with minimal public safety impact.
Learn More
Policing: By the Numbers
This collection brings together more than two dozen statistical trends on U.S. law enforcement, in some cases stretching back 45 years, examining issues from staffing and budget to police encounters and public perceptions.
Read the report
How to Help Justice-Involved Veterans
Testifying at a bipartisan Senate hearing, CCJ's Veterans Justice Commission Director outlined recommendations to help prevent veterans from falling into the justice system and better support those who do.
Learn More
A Shared Vision for the Future of Criminal Justice Policy
In a time of great division, CCJ is working to find common ground in pursuit of safety and justice for all. That’s why we helped convene leading national organizations from across the political spectrum to co-create a set of bipartisan principles for criminal justice policy.
Learn More

The Council on Criminal Justice advances understanding of the criminal justice policy choices facing the nation and builds consensus for solutions that enhance safety and justice for all.

Our Work

As a nonpartisan think tank, CCJ grounds policy debates in facts, evidence, and fundamental principles of justice.

Our Members

CCJ’s membership of top experts and innovators creates a center of gravity for the criminal justice field.

Our Impact

CCJ is a trusted, go-to resource for policymakers, journalists, and advocates across the political spectrum.

Member Spotlight

“Our staff is our most valuable asset, and they have very difficult jobs ... We want our staff to feel valued, have the tools to be successful through training and professional development, and have pathways for their careers.”
Beth Skinner - Director, Iowa Department of Corrections
Beth SkinnerDirector, Iowa Department of Corrections
“The criminal justice system is the one system that has escaped accountability. [There is] very little transparency, and we’ve extended power to those who work in the criminal justice system without that accountability”
Brett Tolman - Founder/Attorney & Chair of the White Collar, Corporate Compliance, and Government Investigations Section, Tolman Group
Brett TolmanExecutive Director, Right On Crime
“When the very people [who] we are called to serve don’t see equity and fairness in our service, our work is literally being done in vain. We have to … create a safe space for collectively reimagining our approach to justice issues.”
Leslie Cooper - Director, Pretrial Services Agency, District of Columbia
Leslie CooperDirector, Pretrial Services Agency, District of Columbia
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Latest Posts
UpClose With Matthew Cavedon

This month’s spotlighted member is Matthew Cavedon, director of the Project on Criminal Justice at the Cato Institute.
Event Recording: What’s Driving the Homicide Decline?

In this webinar, CCJ discussed a summary of the key takeaways and hosted a conversation with four of the participants about the explanations they found most plausible, what shaped those judgments, and what the findings suggest for sustaining progress.

Trends in Homicide: What You Need to Know
Trends in Homicide: What You Need to Know

This package of data examines long- and short-term homicide trends, how homicide is concentrated across the country, victimization and offending by race, age, and sex, and more.

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