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.