Washington, D.C. — Today, Center for American Progress, along with 13 prominent national organizations representing the political left and right, released a sweeping set of shared principles for criminal justice policy change in the United States. While the organizations’ leaders disagree on most policy issues, they set those differences aside to unite behind a commitment to a safer and more just nation. Moving forward, these principles can be leveraged by lawmakers and advocates working on criminal justice policy at the local, state, and federal level.
The groups—Alliance for Safety and Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, American Legislative Exchange Council, Center for American Progress, Conservative Political Action Committee, Dream.org, Faith & Freedom Coalition, JustLeadershipUSA, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Right On Crime, Stand Together, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Unify.us, and Vera Institute of Justice—began collaborating prior to the November 2024 election to develop the principles and are launching them publicly today via a virtual event hosted by the Council on Criminal Justice.
“CAP is proud to sign on to this set of bipartisan principles that we hope will catalyze efforts in states across the country to both improve public safety and fix our broken criminal justice system,” said Rachael Eisenberg, managing director of Rights and Justice at the Center for American Progress. “As the world leader in incarceration, the U.S. criminal justice system is too big, costs too much, and fails to deliver the safety and justice Americans deserve. And at a time when there is so much that divides us in this country, there is a real opportunity for our leaders to work across the aisle to create a fairer and more racially just system, make communities safer, and earn back community trust. Our leaders should embrace these bipartisan principles so that our nation can live up to the promise of safety, fairness, dignity, and accountability for all.”
According to these organizations, there are four principles that must shape the foundation of a justice system that is fair and effective, and that can foster national unity by earning the trust of all Americans:
- Safety: Everyone deserves to be safe. The best available evidence of what works should be used to prevent crime, enforce laws, help crime survivors heal, and provide meaningful second chances. A strong foundation for safety means making investments that allow people and communities to thrive.
- Accountability: Individuals are responsible for their actions; they should be held accountable and have opportunities to repair harm. People who work in the justice system should meet high moral, legal, and ethical standards and be held responsible for wrongdoing. Justice agencies should actively share information with—and seek input from—the public and use taxpayer dollars responsibly.
- Dignity: Every person has inherent worth, value, and potential for change. All people should be treated with dignity and respect and afforded opportunities to contribute positively to their communities.
- Fairness: The justice system should uphold constitutional rights and liberties and apply the rule of law fairly and proportionally to all. Criminal justice policies and practices should recognize and actively work against any two-tiered system of justice, particularly addressing long-standing disparities, including race and class.
This effort was supported by the Council on Criminal Justice, the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and The Just Trust.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Rafael Medina at [email protected].