California Council on Criminal Justice Records, 1968-1989

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Summary

Creators:
California Council on Criminal Justice
Abstract:
The California Council on Criminal Justice records consist of 7 cubic feet of textual records and 16 audiocassettes. The record group is organized into five series: Executive Director’s Files, 1968-1974; Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) Files, 1968-1973; Meeting Files, 1968-1973 and 1975-1989; Subject Files, 1968-1974 and 1976-1978; and Committee Files, 1976-1978.
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The California Council on Criminal Justice records consist of 7 cubic feet of textual records and 16 audiocassettes. The record group is organized into five series: Executive Director’s Files, 1968-1974; Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) Files, 1968-1973; Meeting Files, 1968-1973 and 1975-1989; Subject Files, 1968-1974 and 1976-1978; and Committee Files, 1976-1978. Meeting files contain 16 audio cassettes, covering material from 1981-1982.

The Executive Director’s Files document the activity of the various executive directors from 1969-1974. They contain correspondence regarding policies, program planning, and coordination with other entities.

The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration Files relate to the federal program by the same name that provided funding for various state law enforcement programs.

The Meeting Files contain agendas, minutes, project plans and reports to be reviewed by CCCJ. At these meetings, members viewed and approved or denied local and regional plans and heard committee reports.

The subject files document the various topics of interest for the committee. These files contain materials collected for CCCJ projects or administration of grants to local law enforcement.

The Committee Files consist of the working papers of various committees of the California Council on Criminal Justice, and include correspondence, notes, background materials, meeting agendas, and minutes from committee meetings.

Biographical / historical:

The California Council on Criminal Justice (CCCJ) was created in 1967 by the Deukmejian-Moretti Act to evaluate state and local programs associated with crime prevention, law enforcement, and criminal justice administration (Statutes 1967, ch. 1661). The enacting statute charged the Council with encouraging “the preparation and adoption of comprehensive plans for the improvement and coordination of all aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice” (Statutes 1967, ch. 1661). The Council was established in anticipation of Congressional enactment of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which allocated federal grant funding for criminal justice research. In early 1969, the Council was designated by Executive Order R13-69 as the state agency responsible for the administration of funds available to California under this act and for criminal justice planning statewide.

According to the enacting statute, the Council was initially composed of the following members: the Attorney General; sixteen individuals appointed by the Governor, including the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, the Director of the Department of Corrections, and the Director of the California Youth Authority; six individuals appointed by the Senate Rules Committee; and six individuals appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Though composition of the Council changed over time, the appointing authorities were charged with selecting council members that would ensure “balanced representation on the council including representatives of the public concerned with the prevention and reduction of crime” (Statutes 1967, ch. 1661).

Major functions of the CCCJ included the development of a statewide criminal justice program; the administration of crime study projects and research activities; providing assistance to local governments and other organizations in criminal justice planning and the creation of grant proposals; the evaluation and approval of proposals for funding in the criminal justice field; and the dissemination of information on criminal justice systems, model projects, and federal programs in criminal justice and deliquency prevention.

In December 1973, the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) was created and given the administrative and operations functions previously exercised by the council (Statutes 1973, ch. 1047). By the same act, the CCCJ was delegated as the supervisory body to review and approve statewide criminal justice planning, establish priorities for the use of federal funds, and approve the expenditure of monies allocated to California. The Office of Criminal Justice Planning provided staff to support CCCJ’s various committees.

However, effective January 1, 2012, both the Council on Criminal Justice and the Office of Criminal Justice Planning were abolished (Statutes 2011, ch. 36.) No agency was tasked with taking over the role of the CCCJ.

Acquisition information:
The State Archives received these records in a series of transfers according to state law.
Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Physical description:
7 cubic feet and 16 audiocassettes
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website