The State of South Carolina’s Criminal Justice System Conference
Goal
A criminal justice coordinating council (CJCC) describes a body of criminal justice leadership who meet regularly to address systemic challenges and to coordinate system-wide responses. CJCC’s vary by location in their structure and membership.
Host
The conference was hosted by the Charleston CJCC and Charleston Forum with the support of a diverse steering committee of leaders from across South Carolina. Conference co-chairs included CJCC Director, Ellen Steinberg and Charleston Forum Criminal Justice Chair, Kristy Danford (former CJCC director).
Steering Committee MembersWho Attended
Leaders representing various sectors of the criminal justice system from across the state, including the courts, prosecution, defense, law enforcement, corrections, city, county and state leaders, medical/behavioral healthcare and community-based providers, individuals with lived experience, the advocacy community, and subject matter experts were encouraged to attend.
When, Where, and Cost
The free conference was held on October 20, 2023, from 8:30AM to 3:00PM at Trident Technical College in North Charleston.
Expectation
Participants reviewed and discussed system trends and evidence-based opportunities for advancing public safety, justice, and fairness in the Palmetto state. Participants shared progress and challenges, networked with one another, and learned from experts in the field. Participants are also helping to shape growing data-guided collaborative dedicated to improving public safety, justice, and fairness in South Carolina.
The inaugural conference was:
- For diverse stakeholders and perspectives... Not a single stakeholder.
- Grounded in research and data... Not about anecdotes and politics.
- Encouraged meaningful dialogue... Not a dog and pony show.
- Acknowledged key problems and explored innovative and scalable solutions... Not about business as usual.
Presentations were selected from an open call for proposals and selected based upon a combination of factors such as the degree to which it is research-informed and data-based, reflective of system issues, representative of diverse perspectives and lived experiences, and alignment with the goal of the conference.
Agenda and Materials
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Ellen S. Steinberg, Director, Charleston County CJCC, Conference Co-Chair
- Kristy Danford, Charleston Forum Board of Directors, Conference Co-Chair
- Utilizing SC's Crisis Care Continuum to Deflect from the Criminal Justice System, Stacee Rowell, LISW-CP/S, Mobile Crisis Program Manager, SCDMH
- Transforming the Police Through Data-Driven Approaches: The Carolina Cohorts Project, Elise Kratzer, Policing Research Analyst, RTI International
- Moderated discussion about deflection and diversion, moderated by Jim Lake, 9-1-1 Coordinator
- Keith Smalls, Founder/Executive Director, My Community's Mentor Group
- Focus, Balanced, Data Driven...and Easy? Cannon Fulmer, Trevon Fordham, and Kassy Alia Ray, Ph.D.
- Ellen S. Steinberg, Director, Charleston County CJCC
- Leann Adkins, Legal Coordinator, One80 Place
- The Detention-to-Death Pipeline, Christina Plakas, University of South Carolina
- Deaths in Custody in South Carolina, Madalyn Wasilczuk, J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law
- Ashley Pennington, Special Council, Burnette Shutt & McDaniel
- Racial Trauma and Disparities, Tandi Fortier, PMHNP-BC
- Statewide Trends, Dr. Delores Dacosta, Commission for Minority Affairs
- Jason Bruder, Captain, Charleston Police Department
- Participants mingle in designated breakout areas: diversion, disparities, violence reduction, pretrial justice, etc.
- Jerry Blassingame, Ramona Stillwagon, Rev. David Truluck, moderated by Pastor James Murray