Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: A County Justice and Mental Health Systems Improvement Project

A year ago today, George Floyd died at the hands of then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. On the anniversary of his tragic murder, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones who endure his loss.

As Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, The Council of State Governments Justice Center unequivocally condemns the alarming spike in acts of bias, violence, and hate crimes towards people of Asian descent.

Hamilton County, Ohio launches a comprehensive, data-driven review of its juvenile justice system to identify strategies to improve outcomes for youth involved with the system while enhancing public safety.

Many community members are seeking to stop the cycle of arrest and incarceration for people with behavioral health needs. But individuals leading this work at the local level face seemingly intractable structural and fiscal barriers to making widespread, lasting change. State leaders can play a critical role in addressing these barriers, and policymakers in Pennsylvania are at the forefront of rising to this challenge.

On May 28, 2021, President Biden released his full Fiscal Year 2022 budget, building on his discretionary spending proposal released in April. The full budget continues to expand major funding for criminal justice and public safety initiatives, with several measures explicitly focusedon advancing racial equity.

Our updated digital guide outlines need-to-know insights for state and local leaders about this opportunity to invest in criminal justice initiatives and rethink public safety.