Does more gun ownership equal a decrease in homicides?
Watch our CCJ Centering Justice webinar unpacking recent trends in homicide, gun ownership, & gun policy, featuring Natasha Bagdasarian, Alan Gottlieb, @daniel-webster.bsky.social, & Rob Wilcox: counciloncj.org/event-record...
The CCJ Women’s Justice Commission released a research agenda, calling for targeted investment in high-quality data and research to fill major gaps in knowledge & better inform policies that improve outcomes for women, families, and communities. Check out the agenda: counciloncj.org/advancing-wo...
During last night's State of the Union, multiple fact-checking outlets turned to research from the Council on Criminal Justice as a trusted source for context on crime trends.
We’re pleased that our nonpartisan data is contributing to the national dialogue.
#SOTU #SOTU2026
In his State of the Union, Donald Trump said murder is at its lowest level since 1900. Is that true? Probably. ⬇️
#SOTU #SOTU2026
How have gun policies, enforcement strategies, and market dynamics shaped gun violence trends today?
Join CCJ’s Centering Justice project with experts Natasha Bagdasarian, Alan Gottlieb, @daniel-webster.bsky.social, and Rob Wilcox on March 10 to learn more: events.zoom.us/ev/AigV8lDJ3...
Friendship Express - a short film shot, colored, and edited by me.
This was my first time shooting on a cine-camera, let alone a film cine-camera, but I decided to do something fun with the test footage. Check it out! 📽️
youtu.be/apuRtrudUgs?...
During CCJ's webinar on the potential forces driving the recent crime decline, CCJ member @dralexpiquero.bsky.social highlighted data & evidence showing that immigrants commit fewer violent crimes than their native-born counterparts, despite widespread misconceptions: counciloncj.org/event-record...
OUT TODAY: 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. Explore the full analysis of crime trends in 40 U.S. cities: counciloncj.org/crime-trends...
What's behind the historical drop in violent crime? Join us 1/27 at 12pm ET for a CCJ webinar ft. Thaddeus Johnson, @charlesflehman.bsky.social, Ernesto Lopez, @ProfEmilyOwens, @dralexpiquero.bsky.social, & @abgelb.bsky.social to discuss common & controversial claims. events.zoom.us/ev/AqOePW3gi...
CCJ Impact Moment #2: As debates over public safety intensified, CCJ’s crime trends research served as a trusted, nonpartisan source—cited by policymakers, national media, and fact-checkers across the political spectrum. Learn about CCJ’s crime trends research at: counciloncj.org/crime-trends...
In my latest piece for @newsweek.com, I examine the call for moral reflection from Catholic leaders as immigration rhetoric and enforcement grow harsher—and what the command of “love thy neighbor” demands in practice. Read here ⬇️ www.newsweek.com/in-defending...
CCJ had several significant achievements this year—ways in which we contributed to building a safer and fairer nation, bridging ideological divides, and grounding critical policy debates in facts. Check out CCJ’s 7️⃣ biggest moments of impact in 2025. ⬇️
The federal government stopped releasing detailed arrest data in 2020. What have arrests looked like since then, and what can we learn from long-term analysis? CCJ's Policy Director spoke with @cbsnews.com about the findings of this first-of-its kind analysis.
Earlier this year, the DOJ terminated public safety grants initially valued at more than $800 million. How have those funding cuts impacted local nonprofits? CCJ Senior Fellow Amy Solomon spoke with @gothamist.com about the potential implications for nonprofits in New York City.
ICYMI: The Council’s Centering Justice initiative hosted a webinar on the state of crime and justice with panelists @sentencinglaw.bsky.social, Shaila Dewan, and Dave Sunday, alongside moderators Khalil A. Cumberbatch & @marclevin.bsky.social. Watch the recording at: counciloncj.org/event-record...
How does the incarceration of pregnant women compromise the well-being of mothers and their children? This investigation highlights stories that align with findings and subsequent recommendations from the CCJ Women's Justice Commission.
What are the potential consequences of lowering the recruitment and training standards for ICE agents? A perspective from CCJ Senior Fellow Thaddeus Johnson and Natasha Johnson in @usatoday.com examines the ramifications of these shortcuts: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
My new Substack, Underexposed, brings visibility to the people and stories that often go overlooked and under explored, with the goal of deepening our understanding of the human experience. If you're interested and inclined, feel free to Subscribe/share with a friend!
ICYMI: Will you be joining us for next week's webinar on the state of crime and justice? Register via the link below ⬇️
What were the top issues facing the criminal justice field in 2025 and what might we expect in 2026?
🗓️Join us 12/9 at 12pm ET for a CCJ Centering Justice webinar featuring Douglas Berman (@sentencinglaw.bsky.social), Shaila Dewan, and Dave Sunday: events.zoom.us/e/view/w1jBI...
"Law enforcement leaders, faith-based organizations, advocates, and others across the nation and across the political aisle can find common ground in pursuing solutions that hold people accountable for crimes they commit while addressing the factors that drive their behavior. This isn’t just about compassion. It’s about breaking generational cycles of crime and punishment, restoring families, and building safer, healthier communities." Sarah Stitt, Senior Adviser, Women's Justice Commission; First Lady, Oklahoma
CCJ Women’s Justice Commission Senior Adviser and First Lady of Oklahoma Sarah Stitt reminds us that advancing public safety requires both accountability and an understanding of the factors that influence behavior.
"The kind of old school thinking is that it's only police that can keep communities safe. And what we're seeing out in the field more and more is that community-based organizations work as a complement to law enforcement."
This spring, DOJ canceled public safety grants initially valued at more than $800m, many to local nonprofits. CCJ Senior Fellow Amy Solomon, who previously oversaw DOJ grantmaking, spoke to @npr.org about the critical role these orgs play in community safety: www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
We honor veterans’ service, but too often overlook them when their invisible wounds lead to the justice system. In @starsandstripes.bsky.social, CCJ Veterans Justice Commission Director David “Mac” MacEwen shares how government can better support them: www.stripes.com/opinion/2025...
Has clemency become more about politics than justice?
CCJ's Khalil Cumberbatch and @marclevin.bsky.social write in @newsweek.com that the power of clemency, when used often, fairly and transparently, is an essential tool for a more balanced justice system: www.newsweek.com/clemency-sho...
The Council on Criminal Justice (@counciloncj.org) is now on Bluesky!
"The marks on his instrument resembled those of the aged park bench he sat upon, each scratch and scuff like a single word in a lifetime of stories."
📝 My latest Substack piece from my Stories from Strangers series: Ralph - Central Park, New York. Read 📖 or listen 🎧 here:
📝 My latest Substack piece from my Stories from Strangers series: Milan - NYC Pride, 2025. Read 📖 or listen 🎧 here: open.substack.com/pub/aspectso...
“We naturally make assumptions as people and oftentimes we get surprised … so [photography] just taught me about being more open-minded, being patient and paying attention to life.” Read 📖 or listen to 🎧 my latest Substack piece: open.substack.com/pub/aspectso...
“Memories often bring solace in prison, so capturing them in photos brings a layer of permanence. Remembering cherished moments is the best I can do to shield myself from how swiftly time passes on the outside.”
