Applications open for NACo’s County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network

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BlogThe network aims to strengthen the capacity of county leaders to identify and assess their community’s current barriers to identifying and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system and share scalable and transferable policies and programs.Applications open for NACo’s County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network
- APPLY TODAY! NACo’s County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network is seeking inaugural members interested in identifying and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system. Learn more and apply here
- #County leaders, looking for policies, practices and programs to identify and eliminate disparities in your local justice system? Join peers in the County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network. Learn more and apply here
- #County leaders, how are you working to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in your local justice system? Join the County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network to start or advance your efforts. Apply here
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Blog
Applications open for NACo’s County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network
Apply to Join
To learn about eligibility, selection criteria and ways to apply, please visit this site and submit your application by October 7, 2022.
NACo will select 10 leaders based on application responses, geographic diversity and county demographics.
Counties are critical contributors to building and improving community safety, health and wellbeing. However, some residents experience poorer outcomes in areas such as education, health, safety and economic mobility. In the justice system, these disparities often stem from overpolicing, historic disinvestment and underinvestment in social systems in communities of color and unjust policies and practices that often prioritize criminal justice responses over meaningful community supports that address socioeconomic and public health needs. To address these disparities, county elected officials play a key role in advancing policies, practices, programs and funding to improve outcomes for all community members, enhance public safety and ensure all residents have an opportunity to thrive.
With support from John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites county elected officials to apply to the County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network.
The network aims to strengthen the capacity of county leaders to identify and assess their community’s current barriers to identifying and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system and share scalable and transferable policies and programs.The CORE Justice Network will support up to 10 county leaders with an interest in creating or expanding efforts to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the local criminal legal system. This is an opportunity for counties to learn about and deploy policies, programs, practices and resources that make communities safer and more equitable, as well as reduce the collateral consequences of justice system involvement, particularly for communities of color. The Network provides opportunities to:
- Engage with peers, including in-person peer exchanges to communities with model practices and policies
- Participate in virtual technical assistance opportunities with subject matter experts
- Improve understanding of the history and systems at play that contribute to structural racism and create racial and ethnic disparities
- Explore programs, practices and policies to advance racial equity, and
- Highlight local efforts to a national audience.
More information about the time expectations and opportunities is included in the application. County leaders are invited to participate at no cost to their jurisdiction. We anticipate each leader will use the expertise and assistance offered through this initiative in different ways based on their community’s unique needs.
Interested county leaders are encouraged to apply to participate in the CORE Justice Network. To learn about eligibility, selection criteria and ways to apply, please visit this site and submit your application by October 7, 2022. NACo will select 10 leaders based on application responses, geographic diversity and county demographics.
Please contact Chelsea Thomson, Justice Program Manager at cthomson@naco.org with any questions.
The network aims to strengthen the capacity of county leaders to identify and assess their community’s current barriers to identifying and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system and share scalable and transferable policies and programs.2022-09-07Blog2022-09-29
Deadline Extended! Apply now through Friday, October 7
Apply to JoinTo learn about eligibility, selection criteria and ways to apply, please visit this site and submit your application by October 7, 2022. NACo will select 10 leaders based on application responses, geographic diversity and county demographics. |
Counties are critical contributors to building and improving community safety, health and wellbeing. However, some residents experience poorer outcomes in areas such as education, health, safety and economic mobility. In the justice system, these disparities often stem from overpolicing, historic disinvestment and underinvestment in social systems in communities of color and unjust policies and practices that often prioritize criminal justice responses over meaningful community supports that address socioeconomic and public health needs. To address these disparities, county elected officials play a key role in advancing policies, practices, programs and funding to improve outcomes for all community members, enhance public safety and ensure all residents have an opportunity to thrive.
With support from John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the National Association of Counties (NACo) invites county elected officials to apply to the County Officials advancing Racial Equity (CORE) in Justice Network.
The network aims to strengthen the capacity of county leaders to identify and assess their community’s current barriers to identifying and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system and share scalable and transferable policies and programs.
The CORE Justice Network will support up to 10 county leaders with an interest in creating or expanding efforts to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the local criminal legal system. This is an opportunity for counties to learn about and deploy policies, programs, practices and resources that make communities safer and more equitable, as well as reduce the collateral consequences of justice system involvement, particularly for communities of color. The Network provides opportunities to:
- Engage with peers, including in-person peer exchanges to communities with model practices and policies
- Participate in virtual technical assistance opportunities with subject matter experts
- Improve understanding of the history and systems at play that contribute to structural racism and create racial and ethnic disparities
- Explore programs, practices and policies to advance racial equity, and
- Highlight local efforts to a national audience.
More information about the time expectations and opportunities is included in the application. County leaders are invited to participate at no cost to their jurisdiction. We anticipate each leader will use the expertise and assistance offered through this initiative in different ways based on their community’s unique needs.
Interested county leaders are encouraged to apply to participate in the CORE Justice Network. To learn about eligibility, selection criteria and ways to apply, please visit this site and submit your application by October 7, 2022. NACo will select 10 leaders based on application responses, geographic diversity and county demographics.
Please contact Chelsea Thomson, Justice Program Manager at cthomson@naco.org with any questions.

About Chelsea Thomson (Full Bio)
Senior Program Manager – Behavioral Health & Justice
Chelsea serves as NACo's senior program manager for behavioral health and justice.More from Chelsea Thomson
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Urge your members of Congress to support local efforts to reduce the number of individuals with mental health, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders in county jails by providing full funding for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) in the annual appropriations process. JMHCP was reauthorized for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2022 – 2026 through the bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act (P.L. 117-323)at $54 million per year and should be funded at this level annually to maximize the impact of local efforts to address the prevalence of mental illness in the criminal justice system. JMHCP is currently funded at $45 million under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328). -
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March 2, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmReducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can help decrease jail populations by reserving detention beds for people who are a risk to public safety or a serious f03022:00 pm<p>Reducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can h
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In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
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Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.pagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency preven
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NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Contact
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Senior Program Manager – Behavioral Health & Justice(202) 942-4283
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