THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS

Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled international, national, and regional opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate, and create problem-solving partnerships. CSG's national headquarters is in Lexington, Kentucky.

THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS JUSTICE CENTER

The CSG Justice Center provides practical, nonpartisan, and research-driven strategies and tools to increase public safety and strengthen communities.

The CSG Justice Center comprises approximately 100 employees based in offices throughout the United States. The staff have professional backgrounds that vary extensively, with decades of combined experience in law enforcement, community corrections, court administration, housing, mental health and addiction services, state prisons, local jails, juvenile justice, education, workforce development, and victim advocacy. Staff have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum, but what bonds them together is a shared commitment to their mission, a common set of values, and the national, bipartisan Board of Directors that guides their work.

The in-depth data analyses done by CSG Justice Center staff inform the recommendations they give to states, counties, and community-based organizations seeking to enhance their criminal justice systems. The original, groundbreaking research they conduct prompts new national initiatives, and the on-the-ground training and assistance they provide help state and local agencies translate the latest research into policy and practice. Their national and state-level convenings bring together colleagues from across the country to share their successes and challenges dealing with the most pressing and complex issues facing the justice system today. Additionally, briefings they provide to top officials in Congress and the federal government result in legislation that enjoys broad, bipartisan support.

AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) supports probation and parole professionals in the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. APPA has been a partner with BJA and PSN since 2004 and has provided training to more than 2,000 community corrections officers from more than 60 federal districts.

APPA is an international association composed of members from the United States, Canada, and other countries actively involved with pretrial, probation, parole, and community-based corrections, in both criminal and juvenile justice arenas. All levels of government, including federal, state/ provincial, local, and tribal agencies are counted among its constituents. By taking the initiative, APPA has grown to become the voice for thousands of pretrial, probation, and parole practitioners and providers of services, including line staff, supervisors, and administrators from both the public and private sectors. Educators, volunteers, victim service providers, concerned citizens, and others with an interest in criminal and juvenile justice are also among APPA's members.