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

NGA Issues Statement on Political Shootings in Minnesota

Legal Considerations Related to Gubernatorial Appointment Powers and Procedures

Legal and Regulatory Considerations for States Related to Artificial Intelligence

Statement from National Governors Association on Fire at Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence

Meet the team

Ken Hardy, Program Director
Lauren Dedon, Senior Legal Policy Advisor
Erin Daneker, Senior Policy Analyst
Maria Kearl, Senior 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

Protests, Policing, and COVID-19

This memorandum provides strategies for Governors to reduce the risks of spreading COVID-19 during protests while protecting public safety. (View/Download) Background In recent months, mass gatherings in the form of ...

Letter to FEMA Regarding COVID-19 Reimbursable Expenses

August 25, 2020The Honorable Pete GaynorAdministratorFederal Emergency Management Agency500 C Street S.W.Washington, D.C. 20472 Dear Administrator Gaynor:We write to you on behalf of our collective organizations to express concern over ...

National Governors Association Selects 10 States for Data-Driven Strategies to Address Impaired Driving

As state and local governments adjust to the changing landscape of drug use, the National Governors Association will assist 10 states in developing and executing action plans to improve data ...

Responding to Natural Disasters During COVID-19

The summer season of hurricanes and wildfires is upon states, and combined with the current COVID-19 crisis, may prove disruptive to critical energy operations. NOAA is projecting a 60% chance ...

State Organizations Hail Senate Committee Action on Real ID Modernization Act

The National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators commend the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee’s action on the ...

Governors Call on the Administration to Renew the Public Health Emergency

The National Governors Association, on behalf of the governors in all 55 states and territories, calls upon the Trump Administration to renew the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, set ...

Countering Mis- and Disinformation Amid COVID-19

(View/Download) Mis- and disinformation campaigns exploit the emotional nature of major events and societal issues and seek to influence public opinion or sow social discord. Misinformation refers to false information ...

Planning for Concurrent Emergencies

Background Given the protracted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, states will likely experience additional, simultaneous emergencies concurrent with additional outbreaks of the virus. Experts are forecasting an above-average season for ...

National Governors Association Releases Guidance on Managing Natural Disasters During Pandemic

Governors Show Bipartisan Leadership in Keeping Public Safe During Concurrent Emergencies As governors continue to lead the bipartisan response to the COVID-19 public health emergency in their states and territories, ...

Cost Share Considerations for FEMA Public Assistance Grants

There are many grant programs available through federal agencies to support disaster response and recovery activities. On March 13, 2020 when President Trump declared a nationwide emergency pursuant to Sec ...

NGA REAL ID Letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

The nation’s governors want to work with Congress and DHS to enhance the REAL ID Act and we look forward finding workable, cost-effective solutions that can increase the security and ...

Gubernatorial Considerations for Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Implementation

Pandemics, emergencies, and other catastrophic events require governors and state and territory leaders to consider how they will continue to operate and deliver core services to the public. Spurred by ...