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About Us
Overview
 

"At the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, we believe in fostering a safer Arizona by enhancing the coordination, cohesiveness, and effectiveness of the state’s criminal justice system. Our purpose is to serve as the central hub for criminal justice information, funding, and relationships, enabling us to identify challenges, implement solutions, and create safer communities for all Arizonans."
 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to continuously address, improve, sustain and enhance public safety in the State of Arizona through the coordination, cohesiveness and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System.
 

About Us

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission is a statutorily authorized entity mandated to carry out various coordinating, monitoring and reporting functions regarding the administration and management of criminal justice programs in Arizona. In accordance with statutory guidelines, the Commission is comprised of 22 members who represent various elements of the criminal justice system in Arizona.  The Commission staff is comprised of up to 25 employees working in seven key program areas.  Those program areas are Crime Victim Services, the Statistical Analysis Center, Criminal Justice Systems Improvement, Public Information, Information Technology, Finance, and Drug, Gang, and Violent Crime Control. 

ACJC was created in 1982 to serve as a resource and service organization for Arizona's 480 criminal justice agencies on a myriad of issues ranging from drugs, gangs, victim compensation and assistance to criminal record improvement initiatives. The ACJC works on behalf of the criminal justice agencies in Arizona to facilitate information and data exchange among state-wide agencies by establishing and maintaining criminal justice information archives, monitoring new and continuing legislation relating to criminal justice issues and gathering information and researching existing criminal justice programs.

 

Duties & Authority

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission was statutorily created in 1982, defined by A.R.S. §41-2401 through §41-2420, to carry out various coordinating, monitoring and reporting functions regarding the administration and management of criminal justice programs in Arizona. The ACJC serves as a resource and service organization for Arizona’s criminal justice community on a myriad of issues ranging from drugs, gangs and victim assistance to record improvement programs. The Commission also works to facilitate information and data exchange among state-wide criminal justice agencies.

 

Commissioners

Per A.R.S. §41-2404, the Commission is comprised of 22 members, with each member representing various elements of the criminal justice system in Arizona.
 

A.R.S. § 41‑2404

Ex‑Officio Members (by virtue of office):

These five members serve automatically and represent key state criminal justice agencies:

  • Administrative Director of the Courts
  • Chairperson of the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency
  • Attorney General
  • Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety
  • Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Re‑Entry

Governor‑Appointed Members (17 total):

Commissioners are appointed by the Governor. Appointed Commissioners serve for two years and terminate when the first regular session of the legislature is convened; existing Commissioners may be re-appointed. The appointees must include:

  • One County Attorney - ≥ 1.5 million population
  • One County Attorney - 450,000–1.5 million population
  • One County Attorney - < 450,000 population
  • One Police Chief - ≥ 1.5 million population
  • One Police Chief - 450,000–1.5 million population
  • One Police Chief - < 450,000 population
  • One County Sheriff - ≥ 1.5 million population
  • One County Sheriff - 450,000–1.5 million population
  • One County Sheriff - < 450,000 population

Additionally:

  • One law enforcement leader
  • One former judge
  • One mayor
  • One member of a county board of supervisors
  • One public defender
  • Two victim advocates
  • One chief probation officer