Public Safety and Legal Counsel

Governors legal counsel serve as senior staff, overseeing legal issues with legislation, policy, executive orders, administrative actions, and executive appointments. Additionally, Governors are focused on public safety, crime, delinquency and related social and economic consequences. NGA serves the needs of governors and their policy advisors in a broad range of criminal, sentencing, corrections and justice-related policies.

Latest

Meet the team

  • Ken Hardy, Program Director
  • Lauren Dedon, Senior Legal Policy Advisor
  • Erin Daneker, Policy Analyst
  • Maria Kearl, Policy Analyst
  • Aisley Wallace Harper, Policy Coordinator

NGA Public Safety & Legal Counsel networks

Governors Criminal Justice Policy Advisors Network

The Governors Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPAs) Network provides a forum for governors’ criminal and juvenile justice policy advisors to connect with their peers in other states, promote regional information sharing and collaboration, and learn about best practices and the latest research in the field. NGA convenes CJPAs for an annual institute and offers customized technical assistance to them as requested through research and strategic planning support.

Governors’ Legal Counsel
Network

The Governors’ Legal Counsel Network is comprised of chief legal counsel, general counsel, and legal deputies to Governors. As part of this network, counsel have the unique opportunity to share best practices and legal lessons learned with peers across the nation. NGA convenes legal counsel on regular briefing calls, hosts counsel at an annual meeting, and provides ad hoc technical assistance and research support to the network on a vast array of legal and policy issues.

Consortium Of State Public Safety Executives

The Consortium of State Public Safety Executives is a network of cabinet-level secretaries and commissioners from across the country who are responsible for oversight of their state’s public safety enterprise, including state police, fire, corrections, emergency management and/or other related agencies. Members connect with their peers to share lessons learned, receive briefings from national experts on best practices and receive ongoing technical support from NGA staff.


Resources

2024 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening

2024 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening

The 2024 Governors’ Legal Counsel Convening was held on September 26-27 in Burlington, Vermont. Hosted by the National Governors Association, the event brought together Governors’ chief legal counsel, general counsel, and deputy ...
Recognizing National Youth Justice Action Month

Recognizing National Youth Justice Action Month

The National Governors Association is celebrating National Youth Justice Action Month this October. During this period, we recognize the actions taken by states to support system-involved youth. This includes Governors’ ...
2024 Institute for State Criminal Justice and Public Safety Executives

2024 Institute for State Criminal Justice and Public Safety Executives

The 2024 Institute for State Criminal Justice and Public Safety Executives was held on September 5-6th in Washington, DC. Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Criminal ...
Briefing on 2023-2024 U.S. Supreme Court Term

Briefing on 2023-2024 U.S. Supreme Court Term

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a number of decisions of interest to state and territorial governments during its 2023-2024 term. The Court issued 59 opinions in total, with many cases ...
Briefing on Community Responses to Mass Violence Incidents

Briefing on Community Responses to Mass Violence Incidents

On Tuesday, July 23, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing discussed best practices and available resources for ...
Briefing on Managing Public Records

Briefing on Managing Public Records

On June 25, the National Governors Association hosted its monthly briefing for Governors’ legal counsel. The call discussed managing requests for public records and gubernatorial transition planning, including state approaches ...
CJPA Briefing on ‘Supporting Problem Solving and Specialty Courts’

CJPA Briefing on ‘Supporting Problem Solving and Specialty Courts’

On Thursday, June 27th, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing discussed policy considerations and strategies for supporting ...
CJPA Briefing on Considerations for Women in Correctional Settings

CJPA Briefing on Considerations for Women in Correctional Settings

On Thursday, May 23rd, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing discussed policy considerations for women in state ...
Briefing on State Pardon and Commutation Processes

Briefing on State Pardon and Commutation Processes

On April 30, the National Governors Association hosted its monthly briefing for Governors’ legal counsel which discussed legal considerations related to gubernatorial clemency authorities. Every state constitution authorizes the Governor ...
CJPA Briefing On State Homelessness and Reentry Policy

CJPA Briefing On State Homelessness and Reentry Policy

On Thursday, April 25th, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing discussed state actions on homelessness, with a ...
Briefing on Governors Engagement in Foreign Affairs

Briefing on Governors Engagement in Foreign Affairs

On Thursday, April 4, the National Governors Association hosted a joint call for Governors’ legal counsel and the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) which discussed gubernatorial engagement in foreign ...
CJPA Briefing On State Actions To Address Human Trafficking

CJPA Briefing On State Actions To Address Human Trafficking

On Thursday, March 28th, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing discussed state actions to address human trafficking, ...