Welcome Letter From the Executive Committee

On behalf of the Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), welcome to our website. Please explore our website to learn more about the efforts underway as we work to improve public safety, justice and community well-being in Charleston County. In partnership with the community for which we serve, we strive to:

• Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire criminal justice system;
• Hold offenders accountable and expand evidence-based options to reduce reoffending;
• Ensure the right people are detained in the detention center for the right reasons (i.e., detain those that threaten public safety, are at high risk of failing to appear pending trial, and avoid the use of detention when appropriate);
• Examine and address issues of disproportional and/or disparate impact on communities of color and those of lower socioeconomic status;
• Promote a system guided by data and proactive decision-making (not reactive);
• Increase the confidence of the public that the system is fair and just; and
• Maintain and enhance public safety.

It is our hope that as you read the pages, it will become apparent that we are committed to creating a more effective criminal justice system. In order to do so, we hope you will productively engage with us on the journey ahead. As you use the site, please provide your feedback and suggestions.

Kindly,

Jason Bruder, CJCC Chairman, Captain, City of Charleston Police Department

Keith Smalls, CJCC Community Representative Co-Vice Chairperson

Lea Ann Adkins, CJCC Co-Vice Chair, One80 Place