Name, Authority, and Purpose
The Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (hereinafter referred to as HCCJCC or Council) was created by Order of Harris County Commissioners Court dated July 14, 2009.
The Council works collectively to manage systemic challenges facing Harris County's criminal justice system and strengthen the overall well-being of our communities by developing and recommending policies and practices that improve public safety, promote fairness, equity and accountability, and reduce unnecessary incarceration and criminal justice involvement in Harris County. The Council collects and evaluates local criminal justice data to identify systemic issues and facilitates collaboration between agencies, experts, and community service providers to improve Harris County's criminal justice system in accordance with best practices.
All voting and non-voting members will approach the Council with a commitment to best practices in criminal justice, and a commitment to racial and gender equity.
Voting Members
The HCCJCC is composed of:
- District Attorney
- County Attorney
- Sheriff
- District Clerk
- Administrative Judge of the District Courts
- Administrative Judge of the Criminal Trial Division of the District Courts
- Judge of the Juvenile Division of the District Courts
- Presiding Judge of the County Criminal Courts
- Administrative Judge of the Statutory County Courts
- Presiding Judge of the 16 Justice of the Peace Courts
- Five (5) members of Commissioners Court
- Mayor of the City of Houston
- Representative of the Harris County Mayors' and Councils' Association
- Houston Police Department Chief of Police
- Chief Public Defender
- Director of the Community Supervision & Corrections Department
- Executive Director of the Juvenile Probation Department
- Director of Pretrial Services
- Criminal Defense Bar Representative
- Director, Harris Center
- Director, Harris Public Health Department
- Director of Department of Community Services, or an appointee, as determined by the Director of Community Services, from the Coalition for the Homeless, or other community services entity
- Victim Rights (trauma-informed) Expert
- Immigration Expert
- University professor with extensive research experience in the field of criminal justice
- Director, Houston Sobering Center or other substance use treatment expert
- Member of a non-profit criminal justice research and policy organization
- Member of a non-profit, member based, community organization that does substantial work in the field of criminal justice
- Representative of the impacted community
- Constable to represent the 8 Constables
Non-Voting Members
The HCCJCC includes the following non-voting members:
- Houston Health Department, Director