Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Seeking Community Representatives

October 22, 2017

12:14 AM

Editor’s Note – the following is an unedited press release

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The CJCC is a collaboration of elected and senior officials, law enforcement leaders, judicial and court leadership, behavioral health professionals, victim and legal advocates, and community leaders. Our mission is to assist in making sustainable, data-driven improvements to the local criminal justice system and thereby improve public safety and community well-being.

Applications are being accepted now through December 1, 2017 for community representatives to join our team. There are currently openings for five, even-year term representatives. Community representatives express the varied needs and concerns of Charleston County residents, gather and share community input, and provide voice and feedback from the community into the CJCC decision-making process. Ten community representatives serve two-year terms on a rotating basis. Applicants from various geographic areas within Charleston County and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Current openings, even year (2018 – 2020):

Local civil rights community,
Local Hispanic community,
Local graduate program community in related fields of study,
Local community-at-large, and
One designated liaison from any other entity deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.

Filled, odd year (2017 – 2019):

Local faith community,
Local nonprofit community,
Local healthcare community,
Local business community, and
Local defense bar.

Everard “Rod” Rutledge, a founding community representative since 2015 stated, “Representing the community on the CJCC has been a wonderful experience. It is important that community members and system leaders come together to improve our criminal justice system. The administration of safety and justice in our community touches each of us and affects generations. I really encourage interested members of our community to apply.”

About the CJCC

The CJCC, a collaboration of elected and senior officials within the local justice system and various community leaders, has developed a transformation plan in order to safely drive down the jail population, address racial and ethnic disproportionality and/or disparity, and continually improve the local justice system. Charleston County is one of 11 jurisdictions in the country chosen to receive significant funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to implement these reforms. The Safety and Justice Challenge grant provided the CJCC $2.25 million and expert technical assistance.

More information about the CJCC can be found at cjcc.charlestoncounty.org.