About Us

Created in 1983, the Utah Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice is the coordinating body for criminal and juvenile justice policy in Utah. We are staffed by various experts in their respective fields who assist the Commission in fulfilling its statutory duties and obligations set forth by the governor and legislature.

Utah Code 63M-7

Vision

We envision a justice system that is unified across all branches and level of government which:

Serves the community and instills public confidence and support.

Ensures the safety and security of all citizens, provides assistance for victims, and affords a just process for those accused of violating the law.

Is founded on principles of respect for diversity, timely and equal access to services, and a comprehensive approach to criminal and juvenile justice that includes prevention and treatment.

Mission

Our mission is to connect and collaborate with system stakeholders on criminal and juvenile justice policy with the goal of reducing crime and delinquency in Utah.

By delivering an objective and wide-ranging research and grant agenda, the Commission ensures current and sought after policies rest on sound data and input from diverse perspectives.

Our Values

Collaboration

We create a productive space wherein system and community stakeholders can have dialogue and cooperation on criminal and juvenile justice policy. We share information, data, research, and expertise while acknowledging contributions from others in our work. We forge new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships to fulfill our statutory obligations.

Equity

We acknowledge the presence of racial and ethnic disparities in our criminal and juvenile justice system. We strive to lead policy, program, and practice efforts with the goal of achieving equity. We safeguard equity, inclusion, dignity, and respect for all.

Innovation

We collect, analyze, and identify data trends to monitor changes in policies and reveal potential gaps in the system. We adapt to meet emerging needs and continue to learn new technology to respond to the priorities of the governor, legislature, and community we serve.

Integrity

We are good stewards of resources, and we act ethically. We value commitment to excellence in the actions we take to fulfill our mission and meet statutory responsibilities. We are trustworthy, transparent, and hold ourselves accountable.

Truth

We value research. We believe a shared understanding of existing national and local data trends and analysis is critical when developing public policy. We endeavor to provide accurate information to the governor, legislature, system partners, and the general public.

2024-2027 Strategic Plan

In 2023, CCJJ began a strategic planning process to identify strengths, challenges, gaps, and opportunities within the agency. Based on the agency assessment findings, strategic goals and objectives were developed. It is the hope of our agency to implement this strategic plan on an ongoing basis where it is reviewed often, integrated into our daily operations, and actively guides our decision making.

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Our Team

We are an office with diverse experience working together to create a better criminal and juvenile justice system for all!

Our staff come from various educational backgrounds with a wide range of experiences to support commissioners and board members in forming and implementing justice policies that rest on best practices.

Meet the Team

Commission Members

CCJJ consists of twenty-six statutorily delegated and appointed members representing all facets of the criminal and juvenile justice system including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, legislators, victim representatives, law enforcement, treatment specialists, corrections, parole authorities, education, and community partners.