Homepage - Council on Criminal Justice

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025

New CCJ report finds crime rates continued to fall in 2025. With homicides down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach its lowest level in more than a century.

Read the Report

2025 Annual Report

In 2025, the Council on Criminal Justice redoubled our effort to ground debates in facts and bridge divides through data and dialogue. CCJ shaped the national conversation on crime and criminal justice with research-driven policy solutions and bipartisan consensus.

Read the Report

Who Gets Arrested in America?

This comprehensive analysis of arrest trends is the first of its kind since the federal government stopped releasing detailed arrest data in 2020. It shows that arrests fell sharply in 2020 during the pandemic—and have stayed down since then.

Read the Report

Principles for the Use of AI in Criminal Justice

This framework outlines five key principles to guide the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Stronger Families, Safer Communities

The CCJ Women's Justice Commission reached consensus on new recommendations calling for tailored justice system responses to prevent crime, strengthen families, improve health, cut taxpayer costs, and break cycles of victimization and incarceration.

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.

DOJ Funding Update: A Deeper Look at the Cuts

CCJ's Justice in Perspective series, led by Senior Fellow Amy Solomon, released a new report examining the scope of recent DOJ funding cuts and their implications on public safety, trust in government, and inefficiency and waste.

Read the Report

How big is the footprint of the criminal justice system, and how has it changed over time?

This new resource is a one-stop shop tracing decades-long changes in crime and victimization, arrests, incarceration, and community supervision.

Check out the footprint

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025

New CCJ report finds crime rates continued to fall in 2025. With homicides down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach its lowest level in more than a century.

Read the report

2025 Annual Report

In 2025, the Council on Criminal Justice redoubled our effort to ground debates in facts and bridge divides through data and dialogue. CCJ shaped the national conversation on crime and criminal justice with research-driven policy solutions and bipartisan consensus.

Read the report

Who Gets Arrested in America?

This comprehensive analysis of arrest trends is the first of its kind since the federal government stopped releasing detailed arrest data in 2020. It shows that arrests fell sharply in 2020 during the pandemic—and have stayed down since then.

Read the report

Principles for the Use of AI in Criminal Justice

This framework outlines five key principles to guide the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Stronger Families, Safer Communities

The CCJ Women's Justice Commission reached consensus on new recommendations calling for tailored justice system responses to prevent crime, strengthen families, improve health, cut taxpayer costs, and break cycles of victimization and incarceration.

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.

DOJ Funding Update: A Deeper Look at the Cuts

CCJ's Justice in Perspective series, led by Senior Fellow Amy Solomon, released a new report examining the scope of recent DOJ funding cuts and their implications for public safety, trust in government, and inefficiency and waste.

Read the report

How big is the footprint of the criminal justice system, and how has it changed over time?

This new resource is a one-stop shop tracing decades-long changes in crime and victimization, arrests, incarceration, and community supervision.

Check out the footprint

Grounding Criminal Justice Policy in Facts and Evidence

Upclose 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.”

“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”

“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.”

Latest Posts

What's Driving the Crime Decline webinar

Event Recording: What’s Driving the Crime Decline?

Violent crime has fallen sharply over the past three years. Its news we should all celebrate—and it’s critical that we understand why if we want to extend progress into 2026 and beyond. Experts and leaders from the Council on Criminal Justice came together for a fast-paced discussion of the most common—and controversial—claims.

Veterans Justice Commission

Congress Funds New Center to Identify and Replicate Best Practices to Improve Outcomes for Justice-Involved Veterans

Establishment of a national center follows a recommendation by the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice Veterans Justice Commission

report on violent crime

Homicide Falls Sharply in Major U.S. Cities Amid Continuing Decline in Overall Crime

A 21% drop would push homicide rate to a new historic low, new CCJ analysis finds

Homicide scene

What’s Driving the Drop in Homicide? How Low Might It Go?

CCJ brought together leading experts to assess what’s driving the homicide decline, including changes in criminal justice policy, shifts in technology use, and broader social and economic trends.

Year-End 2025 Update

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025 Update

With homicide down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach the lowest level ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data going back to 1900, CCJ’s year-end analysis finds.

UpClose With Steve Derene

UpClose With Steve Derene

This month’s spotlighted member is Steve Derene, former executive director and co-founder of the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators.