A Principled Approach
to Safety and Justice
As 2025 legislative sessions get underway in all 50 states, national organizations that work on criminal justice issues have developed a set of principles to guide important policy discussions that lie ahead.
A Shared Vision
Our organizations represent perspectives from across the ideological spectrum and vehemently oppose each other on many policy issues, but we agree that the criminal justice system is too big, costs too much, and fails to deliver the safety and justice Americans deserve. We share a commitment to a safer and more just nation and agree on the following four principles for criminal justice policy. We believe these principles form the foundation of a justice system that is fair and effective and that can foster national unity by earning the trust of all Americans.
We urge policymakers to integrate the perspectives of victims and survivors of crime, people who work in the justice system, and people who have criminal records or have been impacted by the system, as they work to advance these principles across all parts of the system, including in their application to law enforcement and corrections officers, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and others.
I. Safety
Everyone deserves to be safe. Lasting safety is created by using the best available evidence to prevent crime, enforcing laws in a manner that protects constitutional rights, helping crime survivors heal, providing second chances, and investing in the infrastructure and services that help people and communities thrive.
II. Fairness
The justice system should uphold constitutional rights and liberties and apply the rule of law fairly and proportionally to all. Policies and practices should advance equal justice in the face of longstanding disparities along race, class, disability, and other lines, and actively work against any two-tiered system of justice.
III. Dignity
Every person has inherent worth, value, and potential for change. All people should be treated with dignity and respect and afforded opportunities to contribute positively to their communities.
IV. Accountability
Individuals, society, and government systems share responsibility for safety and justice. While individuals are responsible for their actions, a system of accountability must also consider individuals’ circumstances and provide opportunities to repair harm. People who work in the justice system should meet high moral, legal, and ethical standards and be held responsible for wrongdoing. Justice agencies should use taxpayer dollars responsibly and actively share information with—and seek input from—the public.
A system that aligns more closely with these principles will make communities safer, administer justice more fairly, and ultimately increase faith in American institutions and government. Greater trust and legitimacy are essential to creating a more perfect union, in which the promise of safety, liberty, and justice for all is not just our shared inheritance, but our common reality.
Signatories
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Sponsored by
FAQs
As stated in the principles, the signatories to these principles agree that "the criminal justice system is too big, costs too much, and fails to deliver the safety and justice Americans deserve." These joint principles are meant to show the American public and policymakers that there is agreement on the left and right that the criminal justice system needs to be improved.
Many of the groups that helped craft the principles have worked together on state and federal criminal justice policy for more than a decade. Planning for a consensus process to articulate our shared values began over a year ago, and the participating groups were invited in September 2024 to a November in-person meeting at Princeton University to begin the drafting process.
The discussions were facilitated by the Council on Criminal Justice and Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, and sponsored by The Just Trust.
The principles provide a shared foundation for policy work moving forward. They are intended to prompt policymakers, advocates, media and others to ask whether proposed reforms or current policies and practices align with them.
Many of these groups work together regularly, and will continue to do so as we work to apply these principles to state legislation in 2025 sessions.