The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice (“the Commission”) was established by the Council on Criminal Justice to assess the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the justice system, offer strategies to limit outbreaks, and produce a priority agenda of systemic changes to better balance public health and public safety. Council Commissions and Task Forces are independent of the Council and solely responsible for the content of their reports. Topics are selected by Council leadership and meetings are facilitated by Council staff and consultants, but neither the Board of Directors nor the Board of Trustees approves or disapproves the findings and recommendations. Diverse in background and perspective, Commission members strive to reach consensus on findings and policy proposals through private, nonpartisan discussions. Members are asked to reach a consensus endorsing the general policy thrust and judgments reached by the group, though not necessarily every finding and recommendation.
Commission Members
Members participate in their individual, not their institutional, capacities. Professional affiliations do not imply institutional endorsement.
Hon. Alberto Gonzales
Co-Chair Former U.S. Attorney General Dean, Belmont University College of Law
Charlie Beck
Former Chief, Los Angeles and Chicago Police Departments
Adrian Diaz
Interim Chief, Seattle Police Department
Ed Gonzalez
Sheriff, Harris County, Texas Trustee, Council on Criminal Justice
Dr. Tom Inglesby
Director, Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Eric Johnson
Mayor, City of Dallas, Texas
Pastor Michael McBride
Director, LIVE FREE Campaign
Hon. Loretta Lynch
Co-Chair Former U.S. Attorney General Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Desmond Meade
President and Executive Director, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
Hon. Tina Nadeau
Chief Justice, New Hampshire Superior Court
Melissa Nelson
State Attorney, Florida's 4th Judicial Circuit Trustee, Council on Criminal Justice
Colette Peters
Director, Oregon Department of Corrections Trustee, Council on Criminal Justice
Steven Raphael
Professor and James D. Marver Chair in Public Policy, UC Berkeley
Jo-Ann Wallace
President and CEO, National Legal Aid and Defender Association Director, Council on Criminal Justice
Thomas Abt
Commission Director Senior Fellow
Charlotte Bailey
Program and Operations Coordinator
Khalil A. Cumberbatch
Senior Fellow
Adam Gelb
President and CEO
Abby Walsh
Commission Manager Vice President, Strategy and Operations
Andrew Page
Vice President, Membership and External Relations
John Tilley
Senior Fellow
Jenifer Warren
Communications Advisor
Council Staff
Meetings are facilitated by Council staff and consultants. Neither the Board of Directors nor the Board of Trustees approves or disapproves the findings and recommendations.
