Recommendations

The Recommendations for Response and Future Readiness provide prioritized guidance to criminal justice leaders in responding immediately to the coronavirus pandemic. Broader recommendations for systemic changes to policy and practice will be included in the Commission’s final report to be released later this year.

Below, read summaries of the Commission's general and sector-specific recommendations for police, courts, corrections, and community-based organizations. For detailed guidance, read the full report.

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1

Go beyond CDC guidance to stop exponential growth.

2

Communicate transparently about COVID-19 response plans, policies, and data.

3

Adopt universal masking requirements for all staff and impacted populations when indoors and in close contact with others.

4

Widely and frequently test staff and justice-involved populations for COVID-19 using the most reliable methods available.

5

Limit contact, maximize distance, and reduce density.

6

Allocate resources strategically.

7

Actively engage and consider impacted communities in all decision-making.

Policing

1

Protect personnel and the public they serve from COVID-19.

2

Support personnel in relation to COVID-19.

3

Limit in-person contacts between police and citizens.

4

Limit use of custody.

5

Allocate resources strategically.

6

Communicate clearly with staff, public safety partners, and the public.

Courts

1

Limit in-person proceedings.

2

Limit public access to court facilities.

3

Reduce density.

4

Use technology to deliver essential services.

5

Extend fees and fines.

6

Maintain specialty and treatment courts.

7

Encourage collaboration.

8

Develop and execute communications plans.

Corrections

1

Prevent COVID-19 infections from entering facilities.

2

Control COVID-19 infections within facilities.

3

Prevent COVID-19 from reentering communities.

4

Prevent COVID-19 infections in community supervision.

5

Protect rights, dignity, and well-being.

6

Execute a communications plan.

Community-Based Organizations

1

Communicate credible information.

2

Adopt evidence-based, data-driven practices.

3

Collect and release data.

4

Support reentry.

5

Develop new partnerships.

6

Leverage trusted voices.

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