Agency Spotlight: CJCC

For the past 34 years the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) has served as the intersection for criminal justice in Georgia. They touch every aspect of our criminal justice system (O.C.G.A. § 35-6A-7). For example, the CJCC preforms research by identifying and defining problems or issues and then creating a solution. They have responsibilities in the Legislative Branch as they develop criminal justice legislative proposals and in the Executive Branch as they help advise the Governor and develop executive policy proposals. Lastly, a major part of their job is administering gifts, donations and grants (some even federal).

Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program

One particular program the CJCC helps with is the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP). This program directly helps victims of crime with certain physical and mental benefits, such as financial support with medical care, dental care, mental health counselling and funeral expenses. The CVCP helps victims of:

• Homicide
• Sexual assault
• Commercial sexual exploitation of minors
• Domestic violence
• Assault/battery
• Vehicle homicide
• DUI

Human Trafficking Task Force

At the beginning of Governor Deal’s first term, the Governor’s Office for Children and Families received funding to help eradicate human trafficking in Georgia and to help the victims affected by human trafficking. The CJCC recently took on these responsibilities becoming the foundation for coordinating the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force.

This Task Force provides trainings, research and evaluations for human trafficking. The Task Force could not happen with just one agency, so the CJCC works to coordinate many state and local agencies to help reach its full potential.

To learn more about the CJCC, check out their YouTube channel.

About the Author

Bethany McDaniel is the Interactive Web Content Manager for GeorgiaGov. She graduated from Berry College in Rome, GA with degrees in Visual Communication and History.