In May 2000, former Mayor Purcell created the Criminal Justice Steering Committee which meets monthly to address current criminal justice policy and procedures and future needs of the Davidson County criminal justice system. In May 2005, Executive Order No. 021 was signed, establishing the Criminal Justice Planning Advisory Board, also meeting monthly, whose membership includes a Criminal Court Judge, a General Sessions Judge, the District Attorney, the Sheriff, the Public Defender, the Chief of Police, and the Criminal Court Clerk. A chair is elected annually. The Advisory Board Chair supervises the Criminal Justice Planning Director. The CJP Director supervises the other staff members of CJP. Originally CJP was administratively attached to the Public Defender's Office. As of July 1, 2003, CJP became an independent agency of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. In 2005 the Metropolitan Council passed an ordinance which established Criminal Justice Planning as a department of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Members of the Criminal Justice Steering Committee
- Freddie O’Connell, Mayor
- Glenn Funk, District Attorney General
- Martesha Johnson, Public Defender
- Melissa Blackburn, Presiding Judge of General Sessions Court
- Daron Hall, Sheriff
- John Drake, Chief of Police
- Steve Dozier, Criminal Court Judge
- Sheila Calloway, Juvenile Court Judge
- Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk
- Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee of the Metropolitan Council
- Legal Staff Support: Wallace Dietz, Director of the Department of Law
- Staff Support: Donna Blackbourne Jones, Director CJP
Members of the Criminal Justice Planning Advisory Board
- Glenn Funk, District Attorney General
- Martesha Johnson, Public Defender
- Melissa Blackburn, Presiding Judge of General Sessions Court
- Daron Hall, Sheriff
- John Drake, Chief of Police
- Steve Dozier, Criminal Court Judge
- Sheila Calloway, Juvenile Court Judge
- Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk
- Legal Staff Support: Wallace Dietz, Director of the Department of Law
- Staff Support: Donna Blackbourne Jones, Director Criminal Justice Planning
Criminal Justice Planning Staff
- Donna Blackbourne Jones, Director
- Diane Latiolais, Statistical Research Analyst
- Lindsey Richmond, Statistical Research Analyst
- Samantha Taylor, Administrative Specialist