The opening remarks will discuss objectives of the final SJC Research Symposium with emphasis on the SJC legacy and carrying the values of empirically-driven policy and practice beyond the SJC.

Presenters

• Jennifer Ferone, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Stephanie Platz, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

This session is both about looking back and looking ahead. It will discuss legacy planning and what’s to come for 2026/27, an overview of a decade of findings and lessons learned, and leveraging what the SJC has built.

Presenters

• Reagan Daly, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Patrick Griffin, Loyola Center for Criminal Justice

Presenter

• Michael Jacobson, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

Presenter

• Jeremy Travis, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

Facilitated discussion exploring the future of criminal legal policy and practice and pathways for research that will include conversations about how to leverage data, research, and lessons learned over the past 10 years--demonstrating that reliance on incarceration can be safely reduced. Important questions will be explored, such as: How can researchers and practitioners come together to ensure these types of practices continue and adapt amidst the changing landscape? What opportunities still exist within this challenging funding landscape to keep this type of work going? Finally, how can we harness the knowledge we’ve gained to ensure that the next generation of scholars and practitioners continue to use data driven insights to drive effective policy and practice forward?

Facilitator

• Jocelyn Fontaine, Black and Brown Collective

Panelists

• Nancy Rodriguez, University of Texas
• Nancy LaVigne, Rutgers University
• Everrette Penn, Prairie View University
• Virginia Ryan, New Orleans Parish
• Nicolle Barton, Harris County

SJC sites had varied results when it came to reducing jail populations. Research shows that combinations of programmatic and policy strategies appropriate to local contexts are the key to successfully reducing jail populations. This session will center this finding by providing an overview of what we’ve learned and the relative impacts of different strategies. Panelists will discuss results of SJC Strategy Inventory trend analyses, which strategies/combinations of strategies led to jail population reductions, and what it means to have expanded views of success.

Presenters

• Mark Johnson, Bennett-Midland
• David Hafetz, Bennett-Midland
• Diana Spahia, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Brian Lovins, Justice System Partners
• Judge Timothy Kuhlman, Lucas County
• Renee Danser, Access 2 Justice Lab

Many SJC changes to policy and practice did not negatively impact public safety. Several types of strategies will be discussed, along with empirical evidence that crime rates have not been adversely affected by their implementation.

Presenters

• Emily West, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Fred Butcher, Center for Justice Innovation
• Olive Lu, Data Collaborative for Justice
• Don Stemen, Loyola University

This roundtable will be centered on hearing directly from site practitioners about what would be useful and what kind of role the SJC data infrastructure that has been developed could play for the field, especially in the current sociopolitical climate.

Facilitators

• Reagan Daly, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Stephanie Rosoff, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

This brief presentation will discuss how data can be used as a tool to effectively and succinctly share and disseminate progress toward goals and objectives as well as provide a foundation for change.

Facilitator

• Carla Sinclair, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

Presenters

• Bryn Hill, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Brandon Martinez, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

Attendees will participate in an interactive exhibitor session where site data analysts and researchers will demonstrate in various ways how they have used data to increase transparency and drive good governance and decision-making. Exhibitors will showcase the tools their site uses to maintain transparency with critical criminal legal actors, including communities, practitioners, government officials, legislators, and researchers.

Presenters

• Sanjeev Baderoy, Allegheny County
• Whitney Towey, Cook County
• Emily West, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Jennifer Peirce, Vera Institute of Justice
• Branden DuPont, NYC Criminal Justice Agency
• AJ Roy, Harris County

This session will open with context-setting, specifically answering important questions surrounding case processing: “Why is case processing an important focus? How does it impact decarceration efforts?” Then, practitioners will discuss the realities of case processing, and the importance of best practices, on the ground.

Presenters

• Doug Evans, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Elaine Borakove, Justice Management Institute
• Lily Robin, Urban Institute
• Don Stemen, Loyola University

Facilitator

• Elaine Borakove, Justice Management Institute

Panelists

• Judge Toria Finch, Harris County
• County Attorney Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County
• Sharone Mitchell, Cook County
• Ashleigh Wojslawowicz, Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

Presenter

• Jennifer Ferone, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

How can sites and researchers continue to work towards achieving racial equity goals? Research findings point to being more intentional in equity-driven approaches, but what does that mean in practice? How do we operationalize intentionality?

Facilitator

• Nida Abbasi, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Presenters

• Cecilia Low-Weiner, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Pavithra Nagarajan, Justice System Partners
• Tia Strozier, Center for Justice Innovation
• Rosalind Murray, Palm Beach County

There has been a steadily growing upswing of women entering the CJ system. Recent studies have shed light on what some common women’s pathways to jail are, and coupled with empirical evidence, practitioners weigh in on how we use this information to start correcting the surge.

Presenters

• Bryn Hill, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance
• Alysha Hall, Center for Justice Innovation

Facilitator

• NeAngela Dixon, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Panelists

• Stephanie Akhter, Council on Criminal Justice
• Cheryl Wilkins, Columbia University's Center for Justice
• Deanne Benos, The Women's Justice Institute

First responders are typically categorized as law enforcement and other responders that arrive at a scene in response to a call. However, Consortium research has shed light on a vastly understudied group of workers in the criminal legal system that are the actual first responders, but not categorized as such- public safety communications personnel, PCSP. This workshop will discuss the role of PCSP, how they may influence law enforcement decision making, the realities of the work they perform, and why it is important to include them in formal policies and practices aimed at first responders.

Presenters

• Joseph Schafer, Arizona State University
• Beth Huebner, Arizona State University
• Lee Slocum, University of Missouri, St. Louis

Research indicates that defenders perform critical work but have unsustainable caseloads and work under serious constraints. Additionally, standards for best practices have not been updated in several decades. This session will cover successful changes sites have implemented that are defender-led initiatives, and how defenders have had to pivot their work in response to the current socio-political climate.

Presenters

• Shannon Magnuson, Justice System Partners
• Michael Mronzinski, National Legal Aid & Defender Association
• Sean McNulty, Toledo Legal Aid Society

This session will focus on development and discussion of core metrics sites should continue to collect and analyze after participation in the SJC is completed. Continued data collection and analysis will help sites work towards goals of reducing jail populations and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.

Presenters

• Jim Austin, JFA Institute
• Wendy Ware, JFA Institute
• Chidinma Ume, Chief Executive Office, Los Angeles County

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how justice is delivered, studied, and funded. These AI tools offer powerful new capabilities—but also raise tough questions about ethics, equity, and accountability. This plenary brings together leaders from practice, research, policy, and philanthropy to explore how criminal justice systems can harness emerging technologies responsibly.

Facilitator

• Judge Erica Yew, Santa Clara County

Panelists

• Kevin Miller, Microsoft
• Richard Littlehale, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
• Jennifer Elek, National Center for State Courts
• Michael Navin, National Center for State Courts

• Bria Gillum, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• Jennifer Ferone, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance