A Message from the Director: Highlights from 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, I write to update you on the past year – my first – at The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center.

I arrived at the CSG Justice Center aware that the field of criminal justice has changed dramatically since our inception in 2007, presenting our organization and others with new challenges and exciting opportunities. As we entered our second decade, I felt that we first needed to be sure we understand who we are, what we stand for, and how we fit into this growing field.

I am thrilled to share with you a newly articulated vision for the organization, which animates and unifies all of the work of the CSG Justice Center. At the same time, we updated the language of our mission and laid out the core values that ground us. We developed these statements through an iterative and collaborative process with our staff, board, and CSG leadership. Our organizational New Year’s resolution is to hold ourselves accountable to ensuring that all of our efforts are in keeping with the vision and values we established here.

We also continued to make a difference in states and counties across the country, which could not have been done without you—our partners, supporters, and friends. I am extraordinarily proud of the work we’ve done to assist states and localities meet their public safety priorities; our efforts to bring policymakers Face to Face with the people most impacted by their decisions; and delivering an incredible body of technical assistance to entities that work with and on behalf of people who are mentally ill, addicted, not stably housed, and/or involved in the justice system. Elements of this great work are documented in the accompanying highlights reel and our first annual report.

As I reflect on the past year, I feel so lucky to have worked with the incredible staff and board of CSG and its Justice Center. I am looking forward to more excitement in 2019, including the redesign of our website and the launch of a number of new and impactful projects.

Wishing you and yours a happy new year!