Adam Gelb

“You’re more likely to be in prison in America if you’re old than if you’re young.”

At CCJ’s Member Summit, Stanford University professor Keith Humphreys demonstrated why America’s aging prison population, combined with a drop in youth arrests, will lead to lower incarceration rates.

During last night's State of the Union, multiple fact-checking outlets turned to research from the Council on Criminal Justice as a trusted source for context on crime trends.

We’re pleased that our nonpartisan data is contributing to the national dialogue.

#SOTU #SOTU2026

Advancing Women's Justice: What We Should Know, But Don't - Council on Criminal Justice This research agenda calls for targeted investment in high-quality data and research to fill major gaps in knowledge and better inform policies that improve outcomes for women, families, and communiti...

The CCJ Women’s Justice Commission released a research agenda, calling for targeted investment in high-quality data and research to fill major gaps in knowledge & better inform policies that improve outcomes for women, families, and communities. Check out the agenda: counciloncj.org/advancing-wo...

Trump claims credit for murder drop. It's not that simple. | Opinion In State of the Union, Trump claimed 'the murder rate saw its single largest decline in recorded history' ‒ and the credit. But crime isn't that tidy.

Opinion: In State of the Union, Trump claimed 'the murder rate saw its single largest decline in recorded history' ‒ and the credit. But crime isn't that tidy.

How have gun policies, enforcement strategies, and market dynamics shaped gun violence trends today?

Join CCJ’s Centering Justice project with experts Natasha Bagdasarian, Alan Gottlieb, @daniel-webster.bsky.social, and Rob Wilcox on March 10 to learn more: events.zoom.us/ev/AigV8lDJ3...

2025 Crime Rates Plunge Nationwide as Homicides Hit Historic Lows Changes in criminal justice policies, shifts in the use of technology, and broader social and cultural trends could contribute to the drop

Why is the homicide rate at a historic low?

In @thefulcrum-us.bsky.social, CCJ’s Ernesto Lopez explores the changes in criminal justice policies, shifts in the use of technology, and the broader social and cultural trends that may contribute to this drop: thefulcrum.us/community/20...

What’s driving the crime decline? Is it criminal justice policies? Technology? Broader cultural trends?

CCJ explored these questions w/ Thaddeus Johnson, @charlesflehman.bsky.social, Ernesto Lopez, @ProfEmilyOwens, @dralexpiquero.bsky.social, & @abgelb.bsky.social: counciloncj.org/event-record...

Why Crime Rates Are Falling Across the U.S. Trump has taken credit for reducing crime. But a steady, years-long decline began before his reelection.

Why are crime rates falling across the U.S.? CCJ President and CEO @abgelb.bsky.social explained to @time.com that the answer is more complex than some may say: “We see very confident claims of credit in abundance, but scarce hard evidence to back them up.” time.com/7357500/crim...

Excited to explore the historic decline in murder with a great group of experts from widely varying perspectives.

How much might be due to changes in criminal justice policies and programs? What about advances in technology? Broader social and cultural forces? What else?

Join us Tuesday!

What's Driving the Drop in Homicide? How Low Might It Go? - Council on Criminal Justice CCJ brought together leading experts to assess what’s driving the homicide decline, including changes in criminal justice policy, shifts in technology use, and broader social and economic trends.

While the decline in crime is clear, the reasons behind it are less certain. To help inform the debate, CCJ released a set of perspectives from leading experts on what they see as the primary drivers of the recent decline, specifically in homicides: counciloncj.org/whats-drivin...

Murder Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since at Least 1900, New Report Says A decline in homicides across the country was a stunning reversal after crime rose during the pandemic.

Violence in the U.S. has been falling for several years. Last year will likely register the lowest national homicide rate in 125 years and the largest single-year drop on record, according to a new analysis of 2025 crime data.

Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. last year, the largest drop on record, study shows The 2025 national homicide rate might be the lowest recorded in the U.S. since 1900.

Murders plummeted more than 20% from the year before, the single-largest one-year drop on record — and 2025's might be the lowest murder rate in the U.S. since 1900, a new study found.

To dive in further, the Council is also hosting a webinar next Tuesday (1/27) at 12pm ET featuring Thaddeus Johnson, @charlesflehman.bsky.social, Ernesto Lopez, @ProfEmilyOwens, @dralexpiquero.bsky.social, & @abgelb.bsky.social: events.zoom.us/e/view/yebAf...

OUT TODAY: New CCJ report finds crime rates continued to fall in 2025. With homicides down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach its lowest level in more than a century. Explore the full analysis of crime trends in 40 U.S. cities: counciloncj.org/crime-trends...

Five Questions with Criminal Justice Reform Leader Adam Gelb About some of America's unfinished business...

"You have to be willing to follow the research where it leads, even if it takes you places that run counter to your assumptions." @joycewhitevance.bsky.social spoke with @abgelb.bsky.social about CCJ's work and why a fair and effective justice system is vital for democracy. tinyurl.com/mt6jrsme

Early signs show that crime continued to drop in the U.S. in 2025. What's driving these trends, and what do they mean for 2026? CCJ's @abgelb.bsky.social shared insight with @npr.org's @meganders.bsky.social ahead of the release of our Year-End 2025 Crime Trends report (expected in ~2 weeks).

CCJ Impact Moment #7: In 2025, CCJ welcomed new members, bringing our network to nearly 350 leaders from across the criminal justice ecosystem. CCJ remains a trusted, nonpartisan hub for dialogue, consensus, and strategies that advance safety and justice: https://counciloncj.org/membership/

Great fun having this conversation with @joycewhitevance.bsky.social. Indeed things are not often what they seem, especially these days when people view almost everything through a partisan lens. Thank you for focusing on these critical issues and the #factivism we practice at @counciloncj.org

Small Grants, Big Impact: How Microgrants Can Boost Community Safety and Justice - Council on Criminal Justice Federal grantmaking is a complex process that often leaves out smaller groups and rural communities. This Justice in Perspective brief highlights a microgrant funding strategy, which helps fill this g...

The Council's Justice in Perspective series recently released a brief highlighting a microgrant funding strategy, which helps fill the gap by broadening the reach of federal public safety grants. Read the report here: counciloncj.org/small-grants...

Fallout from DOGE cuts: How defunding derailed a federal microgrant strategy COMMENTARY | Several presidents have criticized the complexities of the federal grants process, but DOGE cuts to the Justice Department have made the process worse for local law enforcement rather tha...

What impact did the DOJ's funding cuts have on "microgrants" meant to support the smallest, least resourced communities? A perspective from CCJ Senior Fellow Amy Solomon for @govexec.bsky.social on resources pulled from grassroots nonprofits and rural jurisdictions. www.govexec.com/management/2...

Let’s support N.J.’s move for fairer sentencing of survivors of domestic violence | Opinion A recently introduced bill proposes allowing New Jersey courts to consider a defendant’s history of domestic violence or other abuse as a mitigating factor in sentencing

How can New Jersey better consider a defendant’s history of domestic violence as a mitigating factor in sentencing? A perspective from NJ prosecutor William Reynolds for @nj.com, bringing attention to recommendations from the Council's Women’s Justice Commission. www.nj.com/opinion/2025...

CCJ had several significant achievements this year—ways in which we contributed to building a safer and fairer nation, bridging ideological divides, and grounding critical policy debates in facts. Check out CCJ’s 7️⃣ biggest moments of impact in 2025. ⬇️

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The Council on Criminal Justice is a nonpartisan think tank and invitational membership organization with two main goals:

1️⃣ Advance understanding of the criminal justice policy choices facing the nation

2️⃣ Build consensus for solutions that enhance safety & justice for all