Marc A. Levin

What were the top issues facing the criminal justice field in 2025 and what might we expect in 2026?

🗓️Join us 12/9 at 12pm ET for a CCJ Centering Justice webinar featuring Douglas Berman (@sentencinglaw.bsky.social), Shaila Dewan, and Dave Sunday: events.zoom.us/e/view/w1jBI...

New report urges more individualized justice system responses for women • Stateline A new report from the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice warns that policies and practices across the nation’s criminal justice systems are failing to address the distinct factors…

From arrest to sentencing, the criminal legal system fails to account for women’s unique circumstances — and it’s hurting families. @Stateline.org covers a new @CouncilonCJ.org report calling for fairer detention decisions & trauma-informed responses. Dig in: buff.ly/7hoUF1J

Congratulations to CCJ member Charis Kubrin on receiving the Stockholm Prize in Criminology. A well-deserved recognition of her influential, evidence-based research on immigration and crime and its impact on policy and public understanding.

Several CCJ team members recently presented research at the @amersoccriminology.bsky.social Conference in Washington, DC on work from the Women’s Justice Commission, Veterans Justice Commission, crime trends, and racial disparities project. Learn more about this work at: counciloncj.org/work/

CCJ has more than 300 members from across the criminal justice field, and UpClose is a monthly video series featuring our members: counciloncj.org/upclose/

Welcome - WJC Report

The Commission's latest report details four recommendations to stem the flow of women into the criminal justice system and improve success rates for women and their families: reports.counciloncj.org/wjc-report/

"Law enforcement leaders, faith-based organizations, advocates, and others across the nation and across the political aisle can find common ground in pursuing solutions that hold people accountable for crimes they commit while addressing the factors that drive their behavior. This isn’t just about compassion. It’s about breaking generational cycles of crime and punishment, restoring families, and building safer, healthier communities." Sarah Stitt, Senior Adviser, Women's Justice Commission; First Lady, Oklahoma

CCJ Women’s Justice Commission Senior Adviser and First Lady of Oklahoma Sarah Stitt reminds us that advancing public safety requires both accountability and an understanding of the factors that influence behavior.

Thrilled to be in such good company on this list!

nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/nex...

YouTube video by Council on Criminal Justice UpClose With Heather Rice-Minus

We’re pleased to share the latest UpClose featuring Heather Rice-Minus, President and CEO of Prison Fellowship. Heather highlights the dignity of all people in the justice system and the importance of pairing accountability with restoration. Watch the conversation: youtu.be/ZuuU0nMJYrw

Many thanks to Tyler Cowen for posting about my new book!

marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...

In the The Hill today, my @counciloncj.org colleague Khalil Cumberbatch and I examine the significant and often overlooked evidence linking SNAP payments, including their pacing, with property crime reductions.
thehill.com/opinion/fina...

Drawing Delinquency Down – Marc A. Levin The right's divergent factions could find common ground in a fresh effort to redirect young offenders.

My new piece in Law & Liberty makes the case for a research-driven approach to youth crime prevention, one that preserves liberty while building safer, more cohesive communities. I explain why here there is a surprising amount of overlap across the political spectrum.
lawliberty.org/drawing-deli...

Research-Practice Partnerships | William T. Grant Foundation Whether you are looking to form, grow, or support an RPP, you need to know where to start and what to expect. We’ve gathered guiding tips, work samples, and resources from successful partnerships that...

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: On our Research-Practice Partnerships Resource Hub, we’ve gathered guiding tips, work samples, and resources from successful partnerships that can help you on your way. Check out the microsite: https://rpp.wtgrantfoundation.org/

wow. WOW.

The CCJ Veterans Justice Commission developed a model policy framework to expand diversion opportunities for veterans coping with service-related trauma. Learn more at: https://counciloncj.foleon.com/veterans-commission/vjc-reports/model-policy-framework

CCJ member Hector Matascastillo served 18 years in the Army and 13 tours in Iraq. His toughest fight came at home—an armed standoff during a PTSD flashback. A judge chose treatment over prison. Today, Hector’s a therapist helping others heal.

In the The Hill today, my @counciloncj.org colleague Khalil Cumberbatch and I examine the significant and often overlooked evidence linking SNAP payments, including their pacing, with property crime reductions.
thehill.com/opinion/fina...

We thank veterans for their service. Why don’t we support them when they stumble? We’ve seen encouraging signs our government is prioritizing veterans who stumble, but more is needed, says David MacEwen, a retired brigadier general.

We honor veterans’ service, but too often overlook them when their invisible wounds lead to the justice system. In @starsandstripes.bsky.social, CCJ Veterans Justice Commission Director David “Mac” MacEwen shares how government can better support them: www.stripes.com/opinion/2025...

Trump is leaning into his crackdown on city crime. The GOP sees it as a winning issue While previous deployments to Democratic-led cities have largely led to protests and lawsuits, Trump is banking on the moves helping him and Republicans, especially in next year's midterms.

While crime rates are falling, an individual’s perception of crime and their perceived risk often outweigh what the data shows. Retired NYPD officer and CCJ member Jillian Snider spoke with NPR: www.npr.org/2025/11/02/n...

PhD students and early career scholars are especially welcome.

The goal of these events is to facilitate new, exciting research collaborations.

Interested in attending an upcoming BRIDGE day? Fill out this new form on our website! (See link above.)

Arnold Ventures | BRIDGE Days Viewing philanthropy as an engine of innovation, we rigorously research problems and answers in criminal justice, health, education and public finance.

The Criminal Justice team at Arnold Ventures hosts BRIDGE days every other week. These events bring a small group of researchers and practitioners together to brainstorm about a specific topic related to public safety where we need more rigorous evidence.

www.arnoldventures.org/bridgedays

Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles to open rehab facility for women | Alabama Reflector Crews are working to ready the facility to open around the spring of 2026 to provide similar services as a men's facility in Perry County.

Alabama announced plans to open a residential rehab facility for women on parole or probation next spring. CCJ Policy Dir. Stephanie Kennedy spoke with @alabamareflector.com on why tailoring services to the unique needs of women is critical to successful reentry: alabamareflector.com/2025/11/03/a...

Thanks to AV and RSF for funding this work, which started as part of my dissertation (linked below). We're so looking forward to being able to inform the use of informal diversion practices in schools!

Lots more to come 🥳
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Crime Victim Aid Should Not Be Tied To Immigration Status - Law360 A Trump administration policy conditioning support services for crime victims on immigration status — currently being challenged in court — is unjust and may harm public safety, and it’s simply not ne...

Why should consideration of immigration status be kept separate from the provision of victims’ services?

A perspective from CCJ Centering Justice's @marclevin.bsky.social and Khalil Cumberbatch in @law360.bsky.social explores this question: www.law360.com/articles/240...

More info: www.russellsage.org/apply/grants...

So happy to see this first cohort of Russell Sage grants (in partnership with Arnold Ventures), to early-career scholars conducting causal research related to crime/CJ policy. Congrats to all!

Check out the recording and summary of this timely and exciting conversation that I co-hosted!

Event Recording: Bail Reform at a Crossroads: Impacts on Public Safety and Justice - Council on Criminal Justice Leaders from the Council on Criminal Justice’s Centering Justice project hosted a vital discussion on the state of pretrial release policies in the United States and how to strike an appropriate balan...

ICYMI: The CCJ Centering Justice initiative hosted a webinar on bail reform w/ panelists @erinleighgeorge.bsky.social, Spurgeon Kennedy, William Reynolds, & Don Stemen, & moderators Khalil Cumberbatch & @marclevin.bsky.social. Thank you to our experts & attendees: counciloncj.org/event-record...

The New York Prison System Is Facing a Potential Disaster “Unprecedented Since Attica” I'm serving my 16th year for manslaughter. I'm a credible witness to the ongoing understaffing issue.

At Eastern Correctional Facility in NY, incarcerated people hear the same thing every day: “We don’t have enough staff.” Sadly, per One Voice United, many U.S. prisons operate with a ratio of 1 officer to 70+ prisoners, making rehabilitation efforts almost impossible. https://bit.ly/46M2c6Y