The 2022 Institute for State Criminal Justice and Public Safety Executives was held on August 16-17th in Annapolis, Maryland. Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the event brought together governors’ criminal justice policy advisors (CJPAs) and state administering agency executives (SAAs) to discuss a variety of criminal justice and public safety issues, hear from federal partners, and share best practices.
Over 50 state representatives from 31 states/territories and the District of Columbia attended the Institute. Representatives included CJPAs, SAAs, cabinet officials, and other state public safety executives. Outcomes from the Institute included:
- Creating and enhancing relationships between state CJPAs and SAAs;
- Building knowledge and expertise in a variety of criminal justice and public safety policy areas;
- Sharing challenges and lesson learned with peers across the country;
- Identifying opportunities for future intrastate and interstate collaboration;
- Fostering state and federal partnerships; and
- Discussing gubernatorial priorities in the areas of criminal justice and public safety.
Governor Larry Hogan opened the meeting and welcomed participants to Maryland. The Institute included a number of discussion-based plenary sessions, as well as a state-only conversation. Session topics included state responses to violent crime, emerging drug threats, state efforts to address equity and policing, criminal justice funding, communicating during crisis situations, juvenile justice, and others. A Retreat for New CJPAs, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, was held prior to the Institute, where advisors newer to their role discussed challenges and best practices.
For more information, please reach out to Ken Hardy (Khardy@nga.org) or Elise Simonsen (Esimonsen@nga.org)
