Justice & Public Safety
New Youth Justice Resource
Counties are central to youth well-being as purveyors of health, social services, education and local juvenile and criminal legal systems. The “County Innovation in Youth Justice” series will offer strategies and practices to enhance services, improve outcomes and strengthen communities.
Latest News
Featured Initiative
County Juvenile Justice Innovation Network
The County Juvenile Justice Innovation Network works to enhance counties' capacity to meet the needs of youth in local juvenile justice systems. Teams engage both virtually and in-person to share challenges and successes, learn from national and local experts and exchange ideas to empower youth and improve local outcomes.
Resource
County Guide for Reducing Jail Populations and Costs
Resource
Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) Advocacy Toolkit
NACo Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing
(2023-2024) Counties increasingly handle direct mental health service. NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing developed reports and united county leaders to address the mental health crisis through key policy priorities.
The Stepping Up Initiative
The Stepping Up Initiative is a data-driven framework that aims to reduce the overincarceration of people with mental illnesses in jails through training, resources, and support that are tailored to local needs.
CORE Justice Network
The CORE Justice Network was a group of county officials working to drive change in the criminal legal system. The cohort focused on innovative, county-led approaches to equity, exploring policies, practices and programs with measurable impact on justice-involved populations.
Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions
Reaching Rural is a 1-year initiative designed for rural justice and public safety practitioners.
Familiar Faces Initiative
The Familiar Faces Initiative aimed to reduce incarceration and hospitalization rates for individuals frequently cycling through jails, shelters, and emergency services. The program encouraged communities to share data and integrate care between health and justice systems for earlier intervention, improving outcomes for these "familiar faces."
Opioid Solutions Center
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.
Related Committees
NACo EDGE Solutions
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
