History of JJSC

The Jails and Justice Support Center (JJSC) emerged in response to a call from sheriff offices nationwide for a platform where they can seek guidance for critical issues facing their jails. In 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) established the Jails Support and Technical Assistance Workgroup to assist state and local law enforcement agencies operating jails to comply with constitutional standards and address other operational needs. To support the nation’s jails, this workgroup engaged experts to shed light on contemporary critical issues and facilitated research on jail deaths in custody (Georgetown Law), consent decrees, and negotiated agreements (DOJ Special Litigation Section Cases and Matters) to accurately identify areas posing the most risk and liability to jails in the United States.

In 2022, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) announced funding to CNA to establish a national hub dedicated to providing resources, technical assistance, and support to jails to help these facilities maintain safe, healthy, and humane environments for incarcerated individuals, facility staff, and visitors. The JJSC was envisioned to provide jail staff with specialized trainings, core competency development, expert assessments, consultation on issues related to jail administration, and other professional development resources. The center is the first of its kind to maximize the core missions, resources, and capabilities of both BJA and NIC to expand Justice Department support for jail administrators who identify and seek to address pressing challenges in their facilities.